WordGarden.iojuice
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /dʒˈuːs/
US
- /ˈdʒus/
Meanings
Noun
liquid from fruit or vegetables, especially as a drink
electricity or power that makes a device work
energy, vitality, or creative drive
More meaningsFewer meanings
(slang)influence or power to get things done
(slang)anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing drugs
Verb
to extract juice from fruit, vegetables, or other food
Beyond the definition
We most often think of juice as the liquid that comes from fruits or vegetables, like oranges, apples, or carrots. That is the everyday meaning most people know. But "juice" also has a few common extra meanings. It can mean power or influence, as in, "He's got enough juice to make that happen." In casual speech, it can also mean energy or force.
You might say, "This orange juice tastes fresh," when talking about a drink. Or you could hear, "That manager has a lot of juice around here," meaning they have real influence. Sometimes "juice" also means electricity, especially in informal speech: "The battery is dead, so there's no juice." It is a flexible word that often suggests power, energy, or something useful at the center of things.
The most familiar meaning of "juice" is the liquid taken from fruits or vegetables, such as orange juice, apple juice, or tomato juice. People drink it on its own, mix it into other drinks, or use it in cooking. For example: "She started her day with a glass of fresh orange juice."
But the word does more than describe a drink. In informal English, "juice" can mean energy, drive, or force. If someone says, "This song has more juice," they mean it feels more lively or powerful. Very often, "juice" means influence or clout, especially the kind that helps a person get results. "She has enough juice in the company to get the project approved."
The word can also mean electrical power in casual speech. Someone might say, "My phone is out of juice," meaning the battery is empty, or "Is there any juice in this outlet?" meaning electricity. This use comes from the idea of power flowing like a liquid.
In some contexts, "juice" can also mean the valuable part of something: the strength, benefit, or main point that makes it worth attention. For example, a person might ask, "What's the real juice behind this deal?" meaning the part that really matters or gives an advantage.
So whether you are talking about a drink, a person's influence, a device's power, or the part of something that really counts, "juice" usually points to something active, useful, and full of force.
Examples
- 1
Everyday drink
She poured herself a glass of orange juice.
- 2
Cooking flavor
Add a little lemon juice before serving.
- 3
Recipe amount
The recipe calls for the juice of two limes.
- 4
Meat juices
Let the chicken rest for ten minutes so the juices stay inside.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Drink order
Do you want a juice or a coffee?
- Grammara juice
one serving or bottle of juice
- 6
Battery power
My phone is almost out of juice.
- Phraseout of juice
without battery power
- 7
Charging
This cable can juice your laptop in under an hour.
- Patternjuice + device
give it power, especially by charging it
- 8
Creative thinking
A short walk usually gets my creative juices flowing.
- Phraseget your creative juices flowing
help you start thinking creatively
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- juicenounverb
Forms
- juicespluralnounverb
- juicing-ing formverbnoun
- juicedpast tenseverbnoun