well

¹

[ wel ]

adverb

1. in a good or satisfactory manner:

   Business is going well.

2. thoroughly, carefully, or soundly:

   to shake well before using; listen well.

3. in a moral or proper manner:

   to behave well.

   Synonyms: properly

   Antonyms: badly, poorly

4. commendably, meritoriously, or excellently:

   a difficult task well done.

   Synonyms: efficiently, accurately

5. with propriety, justice, or reason:

   I could not well refuse.

6. adequately or sufficiently:

   Think well before you act.

   Synonyms: adequately

7. to a considerable extent or degree (often used in combination):

   a sum well over the amount agreed upon;

   a well-developed theme.

   Synonyms: quite, rather

8. with great or intimate knowledge:

   to know a person well.

9. certainly; without doubt:

   I anger easily, as you well know.

10. with good nature; without rancor:

    He took the joke well.

adjective

superlative: bestcomparative: better

1. in good health; sound in body and mind:

   Are you well? He is not a well man.

   Synonyms: hearty, hale, healthy

   Antonyms: sick, ill

2. satisfactory, pleasing, or good:

   All is well with us.

   Synonyms: fine

3. proper, fitting, or gratifying:

   It is well that you didn't go.

   Synonyms: appropriate, befitting, suitable

4. in a satisfactory position; well-off:

   I am very well as I am.

   Synonyms: fortunate, happy

interjection

1. (used to express surprise, reproof, etc.):

   Well! There's no need to shout.

2. (used to introduce a sentence, resume a conversation, etc.):

   Well, who would have thought he could do it?

noun

1. well-being; good fortune; success:

   to wish well to someone.

well

²

[ wel ]

noun

1. a hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur.
2. a spring or natural source of water.
3. an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.:

   He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.

   Synonyms: font, mine, fund, store

4. a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid:

   the well of ink in a fountain pen.

5. any sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building.
6. Nautical.
   1. a part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other.
   2. a compartment or enclosure around a ship's pumps to make them easily accessible and protect them from being damaged by the cargo.
7. a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.
8. any shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise, spring, or gush, as water, from the earth or some other source (often followed by up, out, or forth ):

   Tears welled up in my eyes.

verb (used with object)

1. to send welling up or forth:

   a fountain welling its pure water.

adjective

1. like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well.

we'll

³

[ weel; unstressed wil ]

1. contraction of we will.

well

¹

/ wɛl /

noun

1. a hole or shaft that is excavated, drilled, bored, or cut into the earth so as to tap a supply of water, oil, gas, etc
2. a natural pool where ground water comes to the surface
3. 1. a cavity, space, or vessel used to contain a liquid
   2. ( in combination )

      an inkwell

4. an open shaft through the floors of a building, such as one used for a staircase
5. a deep enclosed space in a building or between buildings that is open to the sky to permit light and air to enter
6. 1. a bulkheaded compartment built around a ship's pumps for protection and ease of access
   2. another word for cockpit
7. a perforated tank in the hold of a fishing boat for keeping caught fish alive
8. (in England) the open space in the centre of a law court
9. a source, esp one that provides a continuous supply

   he is a well of knowledge

verb

1. to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwards

   tears welled from her eyes

we'll

²

/ wiːl /

contraction of

1. we will or we shall

well

³

/ wɛl /

adverb

1. often used in combination in a satisfactory manner

   the party went very well

2. often used in combination in a good, skilful, or pleasing manner

   she plays the violin well

3. in a correct or careful manner

   listen well to my words

4. in a comfortable or prosperous manner

   to live well

5. usually used with auxiliaries suitably; fittingly

   you can't very well say that

6. intimately

   I knew him well

7. in a kind or favourable manner

   she speaks well of you

8. to a great or considerable extent; fully

   to be well informed

9. by a considerable margin

   let me know well in advance

10. preceded bycould, might, or may indeed

    you may well have to do it yourself

11. informal.
    (intensifier)

    well safe

12. all very well
    used ironically to express discontent, dissent, etc
13. as well
    1. in addition; too
    2. preceded bymay or might with equal effect

       you might as well come

    3. preferable or advisable

       it would be just as well if you paid me now

14. as well as
    in addition to
15. just leave well alone or just leave well enough alone
    to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory
16. well and good
    used to indicate calm acceptance, as of a decision

    if you accept my offer, well and good

17. well up in
    well acquainted with (a particular subject); knowledgeable about

adjective

1. when prenominal, usually used with a negative in good health

   I'm very well, thank you

   he's not a well man

2. satisfactory, agreeable, or pleasing
3. prudent; advisable

   it would be well to make no comment

4. prosperous or comfortable
5. fortunate or happy

   it is well that you agreed to go

interjection

1. 1. an expression of surprise, indignation, or reproof
   2. an expression of anticipation in waiting for an answer or remark

sentence connector

1. an expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etc

   well, I don't think I will come

well

/ wĕl /

1. A deep hole or shaft sunk into the Earth to tap a liquid or gaseous substance such as water, oil, gas, or brine. If the substance is not under sufficient pressure to flow freely from the well, it must be pumped or raised mechanically to the surface. Water or pressurized gas is sometimes pumped into a nonproducing oil well to push petroleum resources out of underground reservoirs.
2. See also artesian well

Usage Note

See good.

Grammar Note

Sometimes an adverb like well is so often placed in front of and combined with a certain past participle in order to modify it that the resulting adjectival combination achieves the status of a common word and is listed in dictionaries. In Dictionary.com you will find, for example, entries for well-advised and well-mannered; for ill-advised, ill-bred, and ill-conceived; and for half-baked and half-cocked. Some of these terms are given full definitions, while others are considered such obvious combinations that you can figure out for yourself what they must mean. It is important to note, however, that compound adjectives like these are hyphenated for use before the noun they modify together. Thus we say that someone is “a well-loved professor,” but there would be no hyphen between well and loved in a sentence like “My English professor is well loved and deserves the award.” In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ). There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded. Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!

Word History and Origins

Origin of well¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adverb wel, wel(l)e, wil, Old English adjective and adverb wel(l); cognate with Dutch wel, Old High German wela, wola, German wohl, Old Norse vel, Gothic waila; akin to Old English wyllan “to wish,” Latin velle “to wish”; will ¹( def )

Origin of well²

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun wel(le), Old English wylle, wella, welle; cognate with German Welle “wave”; Middle English wellen, wel(le), Old English wellan, willan, wyllan; cognate with Dutch wellen, Old Norse vella; both noun and verb ultimately akin to weallan “to boil, bubble up”

Word History and Origins

Origin of well¹

Old English wella; related to Old High German wella (German Welle wave), Old Norse vella boiling heat

Origin of well²

Old English wel; related to Old High German wala, wola (German wohl ), Old Norse val, Gothic waila

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as well as, as much or as truly as; equally as:

   Joan is witty as well as intelligent.

2. as well,
   1. in addition; also; too:

      She insisted on directing the play and on producing it as well.

   2. equally:

      The town grew as well because of its location as because of its superb climate.

3. leave well enough alone, avoid changing something that is satisfactory.

More idioms and phrases containing well

• alive and kicking (well)
• all's well that ends well
• all very well
• as well
• as well as
• augur well for
• damn well
• do well
• full well
• get well
• hanged for a sheep, might as well be
• leave well enough alone
• only too (well)
• sit well with
• think a lot (well) of
• to a fare-thee-well
• very well
• wear well

Example Sentences

Menzies pulled off two sides of the coin in “Outlander” —the loving, then grieving husband Frank alongside the horrific Black Jack — as well as a weary Prince Phillip in “The Crown.”

From Los Angeles Times

Employee unions promptly struck back with a May 2023 lawsuit as well as a formal labor complaint.

From Los Angeles Times

In November, it issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defence minister, as well as the military commander of Hamas.

From BBC

The diplomat also said that the risks of bootleg alcohol are well known among tourism operators and embassies, but a high-profile campaign is needed to inform tourists.

From BBC

He is known as a critic of the Algerian regime as well as of Islamism.

From BBC

Related Words

• basin
• hole
• mine
• pit
• pool
• puddle
• reservoir
• source
• water hole