noun
judge
juhj
noun
1
A public official who presides over court cases and delivers rulings.
"The judge sentenced him to five years in prison."
"She was appointed as a federal judge last year."
2
A person who decides the outcome of a contest or competition.
"The judges gave the routine a perfect score."
verb
1
To form an opinion about someone or something.
"Don't judge a book by its cover."
"It's hard to judge how well the plan will work until we try it."
2
To rule on legally, or to decide the outcome of a competition.
"The panel will judge the cooking contest this weekend."
How to Use Judge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who decides rulings or outcomes; or the act of forming an opinion, sometimes critically.
Common mistake
In everyday use, "don't judge me" means "don't criticize or think badly of me" — a more casual sense than the formal legal or competition meaning.
Common pairings
judge a case
judge a competition
judge someone harshly
Word Forms
judged past tense, judges plural, Judges plural, Judges plural, judges singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “judge”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ sentenced him to five years in prison.
Etymology
From Old French juge, from Latin iudex.