Meaning & Definition of Well in English
Well
noun
1. A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
- well
2. A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
- well
3. An abundant source
- "She was a well of information"
- well,
- wellspring,
- fountainhead
4. An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
- well
5. 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
verb
1. Come up, as of a liquid
- "Tears well in her eyes"
- "The currents well up"
- well,
- swell
adjective
1. In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
- "Appears to be entirely well"
- "The wound is nearly well"
- "A well man"
- "I think i'm well
- At least i feel well"
- well
2. Resulting favorably
- "It's a good thing that i wasn't there"
- "It is good that you stayed"
- "It is well that no one saw you"
- "All's well that ends well"
- good,
- well(p)
3. Wise or advantageous and hence advisable
- "It would be well to start early"
- well(p)
adverb
1. (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"
- "A task well done"
- "The party went well"
- "He slept well"
- "A well-argued thesis"
- "A well-seasoned dish"
- "A well-planned party"
- "The baby can walk pretty good"
- well,
- good
2. Thoroughly or completely
- Fully
- Often used as a combining form
- "The problem is well understood"
- "She was well informed"
- "Shake well before using"
- "In order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked"
- "Well-done beef", "well-satisfied customers"
- "Well-educated"
- well
3. Indicating high probability
- In all likelihood
- "I might well do it"
- "A mistake that could easily have ended in disaster"
- "You may well need your umbrella"
- "He could equally well be trying to deceive us"
- well,
- easily
4. (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
- "A book well worth reading"
- "Was well aware of the difficulties ahead"
- "Suspected only too well what might be going on"
- well
5. To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
- "The project was well underway"
- "The fetus has well developed organs"
- "His father was well pleased with his grades"
- well
6. Favorably
- With approval
- "Their neighbors spoke well of them"
- "He thought well of the book"
- well
7. To a great extent or degree
- "I'm afraid the film was well over budget"
- "Painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger"
- "The house has fallen considerably in value"
- "The price went up substantially"
- well,
- considerably,
- substantially
8. With great or especially intimate knowledge
- "We knew them well"
- well,
- intimately
9. With prudence or propriety
- "You would do well to say nothing more"
- "Could not well refuse"
- well
10. With skill or in a pleasing manner
- "She dances well"
- "He writes well"
- well
11. In a manner affording benefit or advantage
- "She married well"
- "The children were settled advantageously in seattle"
- well,
- advantageously
12. In financial comfort
- "They live well"
- "She has been able to live comfortably since her husband died"
- well,
- comfortably
13. Without unusual distress or resentment
- With good humor
- "Took the joke well"
- "Took the tragic news well"
- well