adj
Common
jake
jayk
Jake (adj) means Fine, acceptable, or satisfactory — an old-fashioned slang term. Example: “Is the room all right?" "Sure, it's jake by me," he replied.”
adj
1
Fine, acceptable, or satisfactory — an old-fashioned slang term.
"‘What do you care? Just keep your nose clean and everything will be jake.’"
— Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep (1939)
""Is the room all right?" "Sure, it's jake by me," he replied."
"The old film hero shrugged and said that everything was jake."
"Don't worry about the money, everything's jake."
noun
1
Slang for a police officer.
"In the old crime novel, the thieves ran off when they spotted a jake."
"The street kids kept watch for any jake walking down the lane."
"Someone shouted that the jakes were coming and everyone scattered."
How to use jake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: an old slang word meaning "fine" or "okay," or slang for a cop.
When to use it
Both senses are dated/informal slang, rarely used by younger speakers today.
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Word forms
- Plural
- jakes
- Third person singular
- jakes
- Past tense
- jaked
- Comparative
- more jake
- Superlative
- most jake
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Is the room all right?" "Sure, it's _____ by me," he replied.
Etymology
Originally a medieval nickname for "Jack," also used as a short form of "Jacob" or "James."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for jake
See all rhymes for jake →Frequently asked questions
What does “jake” mean?
The word “jake” means fine, acceptable, or satisfactory — an old-fashioned slang term. In plain terms, depending on context: an old slang word meaning "fine" or "okay," or slang for a cop.
How do you pronounce “jake”?
“Jake” is pronounced jayk (/dʒeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “jake” in a sentence?
Here is “jake” used in a sentence: “Don't worry about the money, everything's jake.”
What part of speech is “jake”?
Depending on how it is used, “jake” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “jake” a common word?
“Jake” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “jake” have?
“Jake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fine, acceptable, or satisfactory — an old-fashioned slang term.
Is "jake" formal or informal?
"Jake" is informal, old-fashioned slang. In the sense of "fine" or "satisfactory," it appears mainly in dated or colloquial speech, so it is best avoided in formal writing.
What are the two slang meanings of "jake"?
"Jake" has two unrelated slang uses: as an adjective meaning fine, acceptable, or satisfactory, and as a noun meaning a police officer. The intended meaning usually depends on the surrounding context.
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