[
UK
/wˈɛl/
]
[ US /ˈwɛɫ/ ]
[ US /ˈwɛɫ/ ]
ADJECTIVE
-
wise or advantageous and hence advisable
it would be well to start early -
resulting favorably
all's well that ends well
it is well that no one saw you
it is good that you stayed
it's a good thing that I wasn't there -
in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
the wound is nearly well
I think I'm well; at least I feel well
a well man
appears to be entirely well
ADVERB
-
(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
a book well worth reading
suspected only too well what might be going on
was well aware of the difficulties ahead -
without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
took the joke well
took the tragic news well -
with skill or in a pleasing manner
she dances well
he writes well -
favorably; with approval
he thought well of the book
their neighbors spoke well of them -
thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
well-satisfied customers
shake well before using
well-educated
she was well informed
well-done beef
The problem is well understood
in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked -
(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 party went well
a well-planned party
a task well done
the baby can walk pretty good
the children behaved well
a well-seasoned dish
a well-argued thesis
he slept well -
to a great extent or degree
painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger
I'm afraid the film was well over budget
the price went up substantially
the house has fallen considerably in value -
in a manner affording benefit or advantage
The children were settled advantageously in Seattle
she married well -
to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
the fetus has well developed organs
his father was well pleased with his grades
the project was well underway -
in financial comfort
They live well
she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died -
indicating high probability; in all likelihood
a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster
I might well do it
he could equally well be trying to deceive us
you may well need your umbrella -
with great or especially intimate knowledge
we knew them well -
with prudence or propriety
could not well refuse
You would do well to say nothing more
NOUN
- an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
- a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
-
an abundant source
she was a well of information - a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
- 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
VERB
-
come up, as of a liquid
the currents well up
Tears well in her eyes
How To Use well In A Sentence
- He was a cute little beggar, looked like you as well.
- Shah went forth with her for a distance of three parasangs; after which he bade farewell to her and the Wazir and those with him, and returned to his home in gladness and safety. The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night
- It also seems to carry the well-tempered glow of late Woody Allen with a well-satisfied view of late life and with few illusions. The Unshine Boys
- He hoped the roots would harbor the fungi and spread them throughout the compost, but the fungi didn't spread well enough.
- Their prayers were answered and the child was found safe and well.
- It might as well be closed, because in many American hospitals you're simply shooed from the windowsill after you've been nursed back to health (usually in 72 hours or less), and you're expected to "fly" on your own. Mark Lachs, M.D.: Care Transitions: The Hazards of Going In and Coming Out of the Hospital
- Beard is rather dismissive of their optical sophistication, shown in the curvature of the stylobate and in the entasis of the columns — the slight outward swelling of a column designed to counter the optical illusion of concavity, were the columns 'sides to be perfectly straight. Looking for the Lost Greeks
- A few fields have the remains of small sunken stone dwellings, intimate as those at Skara Brae.
- Mr Smith said the department's own funds, which have bankrolled major improvements in the naval service, had been well tapped and it was now time to explore new ways of funding.
- Sefelt has pulled back halfway normal, swelling up and down with big wet, rattling breaths.