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• well
  well

  adverb

  in a good or satisfactory manner.
• we'll
  we'll

  contraction of we will.

well

¹ American  

[wel] / wɛl /

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.

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adjective

• better,
  comparative
• best
  superlative

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:

   happy, fortunate

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.

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.

well ² American  

[wel] / wɛl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

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

   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 American  

[weel, wil] / wil, wɪl /

1. contraction of we will.

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well ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwards

   tears welled from her eyes

we'll ² British  

/ wiːl /

contraction

1. we will or we shall

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well ³ British  

/ 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. indeed

    you may well have to do it yourself

11. informal (intensifier)

    well safe

12. used ironically to express discontent, dissent, etc

13. 1. in addition; too

    2. with equal effect

       you might as well come

    3. preferable or advisable

       it would be just as well if you paid me now

14. in addition to

15. to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory

16. used to indicate calm acceptance, as of a decision

    if you accept my offer, well and good

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

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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

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

   well, I don't think I will come

well Scientific  

/ 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

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well More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing well

• alive and kicking (well)
• all very well
• all's well that ends 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

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Grammar

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!

Usage

See good.

See contraction.

Other Word Forms

Adjective Inflected Forms

• better
  comparative
• best
  superlative

Etymology

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”; see also 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”

Explanation

When you do something well, you do it in a good or satisfactory way. You can say, "I did really well on my French test," or "Finally, I slept well last night." When well is a noun, it means "a deep hole full of water or oil." When well is an adverb, it describes the way something's done. If you're not sure when to use well and when to use good, think about what you're describing. If it's a thing, then you can call it good, like a "good book." If you're talking about an action, you should use well: "I always do well on math quizzes," or "You speak Chinese really well."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

well we'll better best

In the past few months, I’ve been tracking the Move 37s in math so closely that I might as well be the Journal’s algebra correspondent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

And while Eimbcke may very well be the Mexican John Hughes, there are certainly uniquely Mexican, and perhaps unexpected, references that were foundational for him as an artist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

But there are apartment blocks close by and there is a park directly opposite as well as a sports club.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

That plant would connect to the grid as well as power a data center.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Grandpa boasts, “I do well enough by myself.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Let’s all agree that, going forward, we’ll stop saying that Social Security will “run out of money” in 2032.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

"We're really positive by the end of the week we'll have some happy hospitality businesses," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

“I’m hoping we’ll get there eventually,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

There’s still no confirmation we’ll see Serena Williams again in singles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

As soon as curfew is over, she will escort us to Amsterdam Central Station where we’ll get a train to Dordrecht.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

On a recent five-day trip to Terceira, Portugal, in March, she said she felt less bloated and like her clothes fit better, even though she wasn’t restricting her eating at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

There’s a better solution for Americans with $1 million or more in investable assets, and for households with more than $100,000 in investable assets whose noninvestment income covers their cost of living, Pozen said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Normal cells, which are under less strain and have better defenses, are more likely to survive.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

“For people who are recovering from eating disorders, people who are trying to get better, these types of conversations around celebrities and their weight is very toxic,” Ravin said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Both places, here and Berlin and Cam’s pizza shop back home in Canmore, were better exactly the way they were.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

All three major stock indexes rose, with the S&P and Nasdaq capping their best week since April.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

For a time, the best human players with AI were better than AI alone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

“I’m surprised to see the fear that governments and society have regarding migration today. It’s one of the best things that can happen to a culture,” Eimbcke says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

"He's the best father, the best husband, the best grandfather."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

It was a huge ask, something you might try to trick a stranger into and hope for the best rather than deal with yourself.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• accurately
• adequately
• carefully
• closely
• completely
• correctly
• effectively
• efficiently
• fully
• nicely
• properly
• smoothly
• strongly
• successfully
• thoroughly