WELL | Meaning, Definition In Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of well in English welladverb uk /wel/ us /wel/ better | best

well adverb (IN A GOOD WAY)

Add to word list Add to word list A1 in a good way, to a high or satisfactory standard: The documentary presented both sides of the problem very well. The concert was advertised well enough but ticket sales were poor. a well-cut suit a well-paid jobwell put Her points were well put (= expressed in a good or intelligent way).well taken His point about the need to reduce waste was well taken (= it was accepted as a good criticism).well spent They took two hours to discuss the plans and considered it time well spent (= it had been a useful discussion).as well as I can't do it as well as Marie can.

• I think she coped very well under the circumstances.
• Your painting has come out really well.
• The tyres on my car don't cope very well on wet roads.
• We're getting on quite well with the decorating.
• My golf was terrible today - I just didn't strike the ball well.

Good, better and best

• (as) good as gold idiom
• all is well idiom
• at the best of times idiom
• be off the hook idiom
• be the last word in something idiom
• better
• cut
• gold standard
• heteronormative
• high-quality
• knock something into a cocked hat idiom
• leave someone/something in the dust idiom
• miles idiom
• second
• sound
• super good
• topper
• unexcelled
• unsurpassed
• up your game idiom

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well adverb (TO A GREAT DEGREE)

A2 very much, to a great degree, or completely: Knead the dough well, then divide it into four pieces. He could well imagine how much his promise was going to cost him. I can't catch the bus - there are no buses after midnight, as you well know.well enough He plays the piano well enough (= to a satisfactory standard). C1 used to emphasize some prepositions: well above/below The results are well above/below what we expected.well away from Keep well away from the edge of the cliff.well over It cost well over £100. Stand well clear of the doors! B2 used to emphasize some adjectives: well aware The police are well aware of the situation.well worth The museum is well worth a visit.leave something well alone Some machines look more like cheap, plastic toys - leave these well alone. UK slang very: well good The film was well good.well hard Watch out for those two - they're well hard (= strong and willing to use violence).

• She's well aware of her strengths and weaknesses as an artist.
• The scheme was well thought out.
• The instructions on the fireworks said "Light the blue touchpaper, and stand well clear."
• Tickets are selling well for the group's upcoming concert tour.
• She managed to complete her last film well within budget.

Linguistics: very & extreme

• abjectly
• absolutely
• absolutely fabulous
• abundantly
• abundantly clear
• beyond
• enormously
• exceedingly
• extraordinarily
• imagine
• indeed
• particularly
• richly
• showstopping
• strongly held
• stupefyingly
• super
• super-duper
• totally
• violently

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well adverb (REASONABLY)

B2 with good reason: She might well be the best person to ask.can't very well I can't very well (= it would not be acceptable to) refuse their generous offer.

• This might well be our last chance to see each other before Christmas.
• You might well wonder what happened to all the food we prepared.
• It's just as well you brought an umbrella. It's going to rain.
• You can't very well take it back to the shop now that you've worn it.
• You'd be as well to confirm the bookings before you arrive.

Reasons and explanations

• alibi
• argument
• argumentation
• ascribe something to something phrasal verb
• ascription
• ascriptive
• definition
• excuse
• explain
• explication
• exposition
• extenuating
• extenuating circumstances
• extenuation
• rationalization
• reason
• rough guide
• scholium
• superflack
• talk your way out of something idiom

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well adverb (IN ADDITION)

 as well (as) A1 in addition (to): Invite Emily - and Scott as well. See more

Grammar

WellWell is a discourse marker, adverb or adjective. … Well as a discourse markerIn speaking, we often use well at the start of what we say. Its main function is to show that we are thinking about the question that we have been asked: … Well as an adverbWe use well as an adverb when something is done to a good standard or in a good way: … Well as an adjectiveWe use well as an adjective, normally after a linking verb such as be, look or get, to mean ‘in good health’: … Also, as well or too?Also, as well and too are adverbs and mean ‘in addition’. … AlsoAlso is commonly used in writing, but is less common in speaking. Also occupies different positions in a sentence. … As wellAs well is much more common in speaking than in writing, and is more common in speaking than also. … TooWe usually put too in end position: … Linking negativesWe use either not also, as well or too to connect two negative ideas: … Also, as well and too: typical errorWe don’t use as well at the beginning of a clause. As well usually comes at the end of a clause: … As well (as)As well is an adverb which means ‘also’, ‘too’ or ‘in addition’. We usually use as well at the end of a clause: … As well (as) meaning ‘in addition’As well is an adverb which means ‘also’, ‘too’ or ‘in addition’. We usually use as well at the end of a clause: … Might as well and may as wellWe use might as well and may as well informally to mean that something is worth doing only because other things are not happening. Might as well is more common: … As wellWe use as well and the phrase just as well when we say that something is probably a good thing: … Adding with as well as and in addition toAs well as is more common than in addition to. In addition to is more formal and used more in writing than in speaking: … May as well and might as wellWe can use may as well and might as well for making suggestions. We can use them to say what we think is the easiest or most logical course of action when we cannot see a better alternative. They are both fairly informal. Might as well is more common than may as well: …

Idioms

all is well all very well be all very well be just as well may/might as well well and truly well away well done well in (with) well out of something welladjective [ usually after verb ] uk /wel/ us /wel/ better | best A1 healthy; not ill: He hasn't been very well lately.look well When she came home from school she really didn't look well.get well I'm sorry you're ill - I hope you get well soon. They sent a get well card.

• He didn't feel very well after getting off the bike.
• I'm very well thank you.
• She wasn't feeling well, so I don't think she gave of her best tonight.
• She wasn't feeling well, so she went home early.
• I'm not well. I'd better not go out.

Animal physiology: fit & healthy

• acrobatically
• agility
• agree with something phrasal verb
• amazonian
• apple
• hale and hearty
• in the pink idiom
• limber
• lithe
• lithely
• match fit
• match fitness
• muscled
• muscly
• muscular
• muscularity
• robust
• rude
• sporty
• virility

See more results »

Grammar

WellWell is a discourse marker, adverb or adjective. … Well as a discourse markerIn speaking, we often use well at the start of what we say. Its main function is to show that we are thinking about the question that we have been asked: … Well as an adverbWe use well as an adverb when something is done to a good standard or in a good way: … Well as an adjectiveWe use well as an adjective, normally after a linking verb such as be, look or get, to mean ‘in good health’: … wellexclamation uk /wel/ us /wel/ A1 used to introduce something you are going to say, often to show surprise, doubt, slight disagreement, or anger, or to continue a story: Well, what shall we do now? Well now/then, how are we going to arrange things? "Who was that?" "Well, I can't remember her name." "He's decided to give up his job and move to Seattle with her." "Well, well - that's what love does for you." Well, really, that was thoughtless of him! Well? What did you do next? Well, after that we went camping in the mountains.oh well Well/Oh well, it doesn't matter - I can always buy another one.very well Very well, if you insist I'll meet him next week.

• Well now, what are we doing about that?
• Oh well, never mind.
• Well, well. Who'd have thought things would turn out like this.
• Well? How did your exam go?
• Well really! How rude!

Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings

• and/or phrase
• anyhoo
• anyhow
• concatenate
• conjunctive
• conjunctively
• ergo
• hereby
• I mean idiom
• less
• much less idiom
• right
• so
• that is to say ... idiom
• there
• therefore
• therein lies idiom
• thus
• what
• woof

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Grammar

WellWell is a discourse marker, adverb or adjective. … Well as a discourse markerIn speaking, we often use well at the start of what we say. Its main function is to show that we are thinking about the question that we have been asked: … Well as an adverbWe use well as an adverb when something is done to a good standard or in a good way: … Well as an adjectiveWe use well as an adjective, normally after a linking verb such as be, look or get, to mean ‘in good health’: … wellnoun [ C ] uk /wel/ us /wel/ a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water, oil, or gas See also stairwell gas well oil well wishing well

• By this time all the wells had run dry.
• Sinking more wells is the best way of supplying the population with clean drinking water.
• Flames spouted out from the oil wells.
• The well ran dry.
• The cottage has a well in the front garden.

Parts of watercourses

• artesian well
• branch
• delta
• drainage basin
• estuarine
• estuary
• geyser
• ice dam
• interbasin
• interchannel
• lock
• lock gate
• lock keeper
• midstream
• mooring
• mouth
• narrows
• reach
• towpath
• weir

See more results » wellverb [ I usually + adv/prep ] uk /wel/ us /wel/ (of liquid) to appear on the surface of something or come slowly out from somewhere: well (up) out of Dirty water welled (up) out of the damaged pipe.well up As she read the letter tears welled up in her eyes.figurative Conflicting emotions welled up in his heart. Synonym swell Movement of liquids

• backsplash
• be dripping with something idiom
• brim
• brim over phrasal verb
• brim with something phrasal verb
• drizzle
• drool
• funnel
• plash
• plashing
• pour
• pour-over
• reinject
• spate
• spout
• stagnate
• stagnation
• staunch
• stem
• swash

See more results » (Definition of well from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

well | American Dictionary

welladjective us /wel/ comparative better | superlative best

well adjective (HEALTHY)

Add to word list Add to word list healthy: I don’t feel well. I feel better now.

Idiom

well done welladverb us /wel/

well adverb (IN A GOOD WAY)

comparative better us/ˈbet̬·ər/ | superlative best us/best/ in a good way; to a high or satisfactory standard: The car was well designed. She manages people very well. I can’t sing as well as Jessica (= She sings better). His point about reducing waste is well taken (= accepted as a fair criticism). The two hours of discussion was time well spent (= it was a useful discussion). I want to congratulate you on a job well done.

well adverb (TO A GREAT DEGREE)

comparative better us/ˈbet̬·ər/ | superlative best us/best/ to a great degree; much or completely: I know her well. Put in two eggs and stir well. He sent away for tickets well in advance (= very early). I knew perfectly well what time it was. I knew her pretty well when I lived in Iowa City. comparative better us/ˈbet̬·ər/ | superlative best us/best/ Well is used with some prepositions and adverbs for emphasis: Keep the children well away from the edge of the pool. It costs well over $100. comparative better us/ˈbet̬·ər/ | superlative best us/best/ Well is used with a few adjectives for emphasis: The museum is well worth a visit.

well adverb (REASONABLY)

[ not gradable ] with good reason: I couldn’t very well say no. wellnoun [ C ] us /wel/

well noun [C] (HOLE)

a deep hole in the ground from which water, oil, or gas can be obtained: an oil well well water wellverb [ I ] us /wel/

well verb [I] (COME TO SURFACE)

(of a liquid) to come to the surface or into view: As she read the letter, tears welled in her eyes. fig. He could feel the anger well up inside him. wellexclamation us /wel, wəl/

well exclamation (EXCLAMATION)

used to introduce something you are about to say, or to connect one statement with the next, or to show doubt or disagreement, annoyance, surprise, or understanding: Well, what happened next? He started yelling at me, and well, I was scared at first. Well, what are you going to do now that you’ve lost your job? Oh well, there’s not much we can do about it now. (Definition of well from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

well | Business English

wellnoun [ C ] uk /wel/ us Add to word list Add to word list NATURAL RESOURCES a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water: These two tributaries of the Yellowstone River supply water for farms and wells in two states. It is an 8-mile round trip to fetch clean water from a well. NATURAL RESOURCES, PRODUCTION →  oil well (Definition of well from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) What is the pronunciation of well?

Translations of well

in Chinese (Traditional) 以好的方式, 很好地，令人滿意地, 到很深的程度… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 以好的方式, 很好地，令人满意地, 到很深的程度… See more in Spanish bien, pues, pozo… See more in Portuguese bem, bom, poço… See more in Marathi in Japanese in French in Turkish in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian उत्तम - छान पद्धतीने, उच्च किंवा समाधानकारक प्रमाणात, नीट/चांगले - खूपच… See more 健康な, うまく, 上手に… See more bien, eh bien, enfin… See more kuyu, merdiven boşluğu, akmak… See more bé, doncs, pou… See more put, trapkoker, opwellen… See more ஒரு நல்ல வழியில், உயர் அல்லது திருப்திகரமாக இருக்கக்கூடிய தரத்திற்கு, மிகவும்… See more अच्छा, अच्छी तरह से, अँग्रेज़ी भाषा में कुछ पूर्वसर्गों पर ज़ोर देने के लिए प्रयुक्त… See more સારું, સરસ, સારી રીતે… See more brønd, skakt, -skakt… See more brunn, källa, trapphus… See more telaga, ruang tangga, mengalir… See more der Brunnen, das (Treppen-)Haus, hervorquellen… See more bra, godt, vel… See more اچھا, معقول, اچھی طرح… See more криниця, свердловина, сходова клітка… See more చక్కగా లేక బాగా - ఒక ఉన్నత లేక సంతృప్తికరమైన స్థాయి లేక ప్రమాణంలో, చాలా ఎక్కువ, పెద్ద మొత్తంలో లేదా పూర్తిగా/ సంపూర్ణంగా… See more ভালো / সন্তোষজনক ভাবে, প্রচুর পরিমাণে / ভালোভাবে / সম্পূর্ণরূপে, নিঃসন্দেহে… See more studna, (schodištní) šachta, prýštit… See more sumur, lorong tangga, mengalir… See more บ่อน้ำ, บ่อน้ำมัน, ปล่อง… See more giếng, lồng cầu thang, tuôn ra… See more studnia, szyb, popłynąć… See more 건강한, 잘, 좋게… See more bene, beh!, pozzo… See more Need a translator?

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welfare economics welfare payment welfare state welfare to work well well adjusted well advised well and truly idiom well appointed {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of well

• artesian well
• jolly well
• well established
• well known
• do well
• gas well
• oil well

See all meanings

• well done idiom
• as well (as) phrase
• as well idiom
• well in (with) idiom
• may well idiom
• mean well idiom
• sit right/well (with someone) idiom

See all idioms and phrases

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humble

UK /ˈhʌm.bəl/ US /ˈhʌm.bəl/

not proud or not believing that you are important

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• English   
  • Adverb 
    • well (IN A GOOD WAY)
    • well (TO A GREAT DEGREE)
    • well (REASONABLY)
    • well (IN ADDITION)
    • as well (as)
  AdjectiveExclamationNounVerb
• American   
  • Adjective 
    • well (HEALTHY)
  • Adverb 
    • well (IN A GOOD WAY)
    • well (TO A GREAT DEGREE)
    • well (REASONABLY)
  • Noun 
    • well (HOLE)
  • Verb 
    • well (COME TO SURFACE)
  • Exclamation 
    • well (EXCLAMATION)
• Business   Noun

• Translations
• Grammar
• All translations

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