wellspring
Americannoun
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the head or source of a spring, stream, river, etc.; fountainhead.
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a source or supply of anything, especially when considered inexhaustible.
a wellspring of affection.
noun
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the source of a spring or stream; fountainhead
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a source of continual or abundant supply
Etymology
Origin of wellspring
First recorded before 900; Middle English welle spring, Old English wyllspring(e); see origin at well 2, spring
Explanation
The underground spring that provides water to a well can be called a wellspring. You can also use wellspring to mean the plentiful source of things like good ideas or information. If someone comments that you're a wellspring of jokes, they're using the word metaphorically, to mean that jokes seem to pour out of you like water from a spigot. Wellspring comes from the Old English welspryng, which had the literal "spring" meaning. When it's used figuratively, wellspring implies an infinite amount of something: "My dog is a wellspring of affection and stinky breath."
Vocabulary lists containing wellspring
Unwind
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Dry
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From Here
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In response, Wellspring Academy Trust's chief executive, Mark Wilson, told the BBC that it had conducted three investigations into the footage and found no case to answer against staff.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025
Park House, which offers alternative provision, is part of Phoenix Park Academy and run by Wellspring Academy Trust.
From BBC • Feb. 9, 2025
Josh Greaves, deputy CEO of Wellspring Academy Trust, says permanent exclusion from a mainstream school has a significant knock-on effect in terms of opportunities in life.
From BBC • Feb. 9, 2025
Through its employee assistance program, Wellspring works with employers to help staff members struggling with a financial or housing crisis — more than 20,000 employees used the program in 2022.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023
He was glad to say that Miss Wellspring was quite well—two hours ago.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 06, April, 1858 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
