Well
WordNet
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"
adverb
(2) (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"
(3) Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
"Took the joke well"
"Took the tragic news well"
(4) 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"
(5) 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"
(6) Favorably; with approval
"Their neighbors spoke well of them"
"He thought well of the book"
(7) 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"
(8) In financial comfort
"They live well"
"She has been able to live comfortably since her husband died"
noun
(9) A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
(10) 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
(11) An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
(12) A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
(13) An abundant source
"She was a well of information"
verb
(14) Come up, as of a liquid
"Tears well in her eyes"
"The currents well up"
WiktionaryText
Adverb
- Accurately, competently.
- He does his job well.
-
- Completely, fully.
- A well done steak.
- To a significant degree.
- That author is well known.
- Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).
- Well wicked!
Adjective
- In good health.
- I had been sick, but now I'm well.
- Prudent; good; well-advised.
- 1897, National Association of Railway Surgeons, Railway surgeon, page 191:
- On leaving the operating table it is well to put the patient in a bed previously warmed and supplied with hot cans.
- 1897, National Association of Railway Surgeons, Railway surgeon, page 191:
Interjection
- Used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations.
- Do you think I care? Well, I don't.
- An exclamation of surprise, often doubled or tripled
- Well, well, well, what do we have here?
- Used in conversation to fill space (see uh).
Noun
- A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.
- A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally, a spring.
- A small depression suitable for holding liquid, or other objects.
- A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.
- The cockpit of a sailboat.
- A well drink.
- They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.
Etymology 3
weallan. Cognate with German ), Danish .
Verb
- Completely, fully.