Meanings
- idiomaticuncountableA short period of time, typically anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes or more.
And so it proved with our wise couple; for, unfortunately, just a second before they arrived, Mr. Sharpwrit, and his lady, were sat down to dinner, ...
1853, C. Routledge, Oakmote Hall: or, The adventures of Joe Rattler: with the extraordinary ..., page 406
- idiomaticStop; wait. Used to indicate that the speaker wishes the previous speaker or the proceedings to stop so that he or she can comment on what has been said or has happened so far.
"...hang it! Just outside the room — just a second! or up in a corner will do."
1860, Eneas Sweetland Dallas, Once a week, Volume 3, page 366Synonyms: just a minute, just a sec, hold it right there, hold on a second, wait a second
Synonyms & antonyms
interjectionStop; wait. Used to indicate that the speaker wishes the previous speaker or the proceedings to stop so that he or she can comment on what has been said or has happened so far.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 且慢
- 且慢 (qiěmàn)Stop; wait
Polish chwilę, chwilkę
- chwilęStop; wait
- chwilkęStop; wait
- chwileczkęStop; wait
- momentStop; wait
- momencikStop; wait
Romanian un moment, o clipă
- un momentStop; wait
- o clipăStop; wait
Russian секу́ндочку
- секу́ндочку (sekúndočku)Stop; wait
Thai ช้าก่อน
- ช้าก่อน (cháa-gɔ̀ɔn)Stop; wait
Cite this entry
just a second. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/just%20a%20second
“just a second.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/just%20a%20second. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “just a second,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/just%20a%20second.
Source: just a second on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.