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say it: wel
well is an adverb, noun, adjective and verb meaning "(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')". It is pronounced /ˈwɛl/ — wel. It carries 22 recorded senses.
(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”
combining form
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”
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”
(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”
intensifier
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”
favorably; with approval
“their neighbors spoke well of them”
“he thought well of the book”
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”
with prudence or propriety
“You would do well to say nothing more”
“could not well refuse”
in a manner affording benefit or advantage
“she married well”
“The children were settled advantageously in Seattle”
in financial comfort
“They live well”
“she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died”
without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
“took the joke well”
“took the tragic news well”
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
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”
Forms marked · are formed by the regular rule rather than recorded in the source data. English keeps a few hundred irregulars and the rest follow the pattern, so the rule is right far more often than not — but it is a rule, and the mark says so.
Definitions, synonyms and semantic relations for well come from Princeton University’s WordNet. The pronunciation comes from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Commonness is measured against a corpus of everyday English. Full sources and licences.