Judge Meaning
Judge Definition & Usage
To form an opinion or conclusion about something, especially in a legal context.
Examples
- "The judge will decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent based on the evidence presented."
- "Before you judge someone, try to understand their point of view."
- "The court will judge the case on its merits, without bias."
- "She was judged to be in contempt of court for disrupting the proceedings."
- "The panel of judges will judge the contestants based on their performance."
A person who presides over a court of law, making legal decisions and ensuring justice is administered.
Examples
- "The judge listened carefully to both sides before making a ruling."
- "The judge's decision was final, and no further appeals could be made."
- "The judge asked the witness to speak more clearly so the court could hear the testimony."
- "As the judge entered the courtroom, everyone stood in respect."
- "The judge declared a mistrial after finding irregularities in the jury's deliberations."
To evaluate or criticize someone or something based on personal standards or opinions.
Examples
- "He tends to judge people too quickly without getting to know them."
- "Don’t judge a book by its cover; it’s the content that matters."
- "She was afraid to judge her performance until she received feedback."
- "Judging by his appearance, I thought he was much younger than he actually is."
- "It’s easy to judge others when you’ve never walked in their shoes."
Cultural Context
The term 'judge' has been historically linked to the role of a court official who has the authority to hear legal cases and render decisions. Over time, the word has also evolved to include a broader sense of evaluating or forming an opinion about people, situations, or things. In modern English, 'judge' is used both in formal contexts (e.g., in a courtroom) and in informal, everyday speech to describe personal evaluations.
The Judgment of a Friend
Story
The Judgment of a Friend
When Anna and her childhood friend Laura ran into trouble with a local café over a broken window, they found themselves facing a tough decision: how to make things right. Laura was upset, feeling that the café owner was unfairly blaming them. Anna, however, was more rational, willing to judge the situation by all the facts before reaching a conclusion. 'You can't just judge the man based on his angry reaction,' Anna said, 'He's probably frustrated.' But Laura was insistent. 'No, it’s wrong to charge us for something we didn’t do!' They debated, trying to determine who was right. Anna decided to go talk to the café owner. Standing face-to-face with him, she could see the frustration in his eyes. 'I’m not saying we didn’t break the window,' Anna began cautiously, 'but we didn’t do it on purpose.' The café owner paused, then nodded. 'I see, you both seem like good kids. I'll let this one go.' Anna judged that approaching the situation calmly would be the best route. Later, as they walked away, Laura reflected. 'I guess I was too quick to judge him. I didn’t understand what was really going on.' Anna smiled, 'It’s easy to judge, but it’s important to get the full picture first.' As they continued their walk, they both realized the importance of not rushing to conclusions, whether in a courtroom or in life. The lesson was clear: judgments, whether legal or personal, should be made carefully, with all the facts at hand.
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