The difference between Jest and Prank

When used as nouns, jest means an act performed for amusement, whereas prank means a practical joke or mischievous trick.

When used as verbs, jest means to tell a joke, whereas prank means to adorn in a showy manner.


Prank is also adjective with the meaning: full of gambols or tricks.

check bellow for the other definitions of Jest and Prank

  1. Jest as a noun (archaic):

    An act performed for amusement; a joke.

  2. Jest as a noun (archaic):

    Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.

    Examples:

    "Your majesty, stop him before he makes you the jest of the court."

  3. Jest as a noun (obsolete):

    A deed; an action; a gest.

  4. Jest as a noun (obsolete):

    A mask; a pageant; an interlude.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Nares"

  1. Jest as a verb:

    To tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.

    Examples:

    "Surely you jest!"

  1. Jest as an adverb (AAVE, Southern US):

  1. Prank as a noun:

    A practical joke or mischievous trick.

    Examples:

    "He pulled a gruesome prank on his sister."

  2. Prank as a noun (obsolete):

    An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.

  1. Prank as a verb (transitive):

    To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.

  2. Prank as a verb (intransitive):

    To make ostentatious show.

  3. Prank as a verb (transitive):

    To perform a practical joke on; to trick.

  4. Prank as a verb (transitive, slang):

    To call someone's phone and promptly hang up

    Examples:

    "Hey man, prank me when you wanna get picked up."

    "I don't have your number in my phone; can you prank me?"

  1. Prank as an adjective (obsolete):

    Full of gambols or tricks.