well
well /ˈwɛl/
adjective
-
(
)
In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
(
well
)
in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
Appears to be entirely well
appears to be entirely well
The wound is nearly well
the wound is nearly well
A well man
a well man
I think I'm well; at least I feel well
I think I'm well; at least I feel well
-
()
Wise or advantageous and hence advisable
(
well
)
wise or advantageous and hence advisable
It would be well to start early
it would be well to start early
-
()
Resulting favorably
(
good
, well
)
resulting favorably
It's a good thing that I wasn't there
it's a good thing that I wasn't there
It is good that you stayed
it is good that you stayed
It is well that no one saw you
it is well that no one saw you
All's well that ends well
all's well that ends well
adverb
-
()
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard ('good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for 'well')
(
good
[ N. American] , well
)
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard ('good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for 'well')
The children behaved well
the children behaved well
A task well done
a task well done
The party went well
the party went well
He slept well
he slept well
A well-argued thesis
a well-argued thesis
A well-seasoned dish
a well-seasoned dish
A well-planned party
a well-planned party
The baby can walk pretty good
the baby can walk pretty good
-
()
Thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
(
well
)
thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
The problem is well understood
The problem is well understood
She was well informed
she was well informed
Shake well before using
shake well before using
In order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked
in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked
Well-done beef
well-done beef
Well-satisfied customers
well-satisfied customers
Well-educated
well-educated
-
()
Indicating high probability; in all likelihood
(
easily
, well
)
indicating high probability; in all likelihood
I might well do it
I might well do it
A mistake that could easily have ended in disaster
a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster
You may well need your umbrella
you may well need your umbrella
He could equally well be trying to deceive us
he could equally well be trying to deceive us
-
()
(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
(
well
)
(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
A book well worth reading
a book well worth reading
Was well aware of the difficulties ahead
was well aware of the difficulties ahead
Suspected only too well what might be going on
suspected only too well what might be going on
-
()
Favorably; with approval
(
well
)
favorably; with approval
Their neighbors spoke well of them
their neighbors spoke well of them
He thought well of the book
he thought well of the book
-
()
To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
(
well
)
to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
The project was well underway
the project was well underway
The fetus has well developed organs
the fetus has well developed organs
His father was well pleased with his grades
his father was well pleased with his grades
-
()
To a great extent or degree
(
well
, substantially
, considerably
)
to a great extent or degree
I'm afraid the film was well over budget
I'm afraid the film was well over budget
Painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger
painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger
The house has fallen considerably in value
the house has fallen considerably in value
The price went up substantially
the price went up substantially
-
()
With great or especially intimate knowledge
(
intimately
, well
)
with great or especially intimate knowledge
We knew them well
we knew them well
-
Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
(
well
)
without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
Took the joke well
took the joke well
Took the tragic news well
took the tragic news well
-
In financial comfort
(
comfortably
, well
)
in financial comfort
They live well
They live well
She has been able to live comfortably since her husband died
she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died
-
In a manner affording benefit or advantage
(
advantageously
, well
)
in a manner affording benefit or advantage
She married well
she married well
The children were settled advantageously in Seattle
The children were settled advantageously in Seattle
-
With skill or in a pleasing manner
(
well
)
with skill or in a pleasing manner
She dances well
she dances well
He writes well
he writes well
-
With prudence or propriety
(
well
)
with prudence or propriety
You would do well to say nothing more
You would do well to say nothing more
Could not well refuse
could not well refuse
interjection
-
()
Used to acknowledge a statement or situation, or introduce a conclusion, inference or question
(
welp
[Non-standard] , well
, well now
, well then
)
used to acknowledge a statement or situation, or introduce a conclusion, inference or question
-
()
A phrase expressing agreement, surprise, skepticism, or irony in response to a statement or observation.
(
indeed
, well
, well well
)
A phrase expressing agreement, surprise, skepticism, or irony in response to a statement or observation.
noun
-
()
A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
(
well
)
a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
The villagers relied on the well for their water supply.
The villagers relied on the well for their water supply.
-
()
A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
(
well
)
a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
The villagers fetch water from the well every morning.
The villagers fetch water from the well every morning.
-
An enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane's landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship's pumps
(
well
)
an enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane's landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship's pumps
The fisherman opened the well on his boat to store the day's catch.
The fisherman opened the well on his boat to store the day's catch.
-
An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
(
well
)
an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
-
An abundant source
(
well
, wellspring
, fountainhead
)
an abundant source
She was a well of information
she was a well of information
verb
-
()
Come up, as of a liquid
(
swell
, well
)
come up, as of a liquid
Tears well in her eyes
Tears well in her eyes
The currents well up
the currents well up
