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well - 17 dictionary results
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well

1  [wel] adverb, adjective, comparative bet⋅ter, superlative best, interjection, noun
Use well in a Sentence
–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.
4. commendably, meritoriously, or excellently: a difficult task well done.
5. with propriety, justice, or reason: I could not well refuse.
6. adequately or sufficiently: Think well before you act.
7. to a considerable extent or degree: a sum well over the amount agreed upon.
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.
–adjective
11. in good health; sound in body and mind: Are you well? He is not a well man.
12. satisfactory, pleasing, or good: All is well with us.
13. proper, fitting, or gratifying: It is well that you didn't go.
14. in a satisfactory position; well-off: I am very well as I am.
–interjection
15. (used to express surprise, reproof, etc.): Well! There's no need to shout.
16. (used to introduce a sentence, resume a conversation, etc.): Well, who would have thought he could do it?
–noun
17. well-being; good fortune; success: to wish well to someone.
—Idioms
18. as well,
a. in addition; also; too: She insisted on directing the play and on producing it as well.
b. equally: The town grew as well because of its location as because of its superb climate.
19. as well as, as much or as truly as; equally as: Joan is witty as well as intelligent.
20. leave well enough alone, avoid changing something that is satisfactory.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE wel(l) (adj. and adv.); c. D wel, G wohl, ON vel, Goth waila

Synonyms:
3. properly, correctly. 4. skillfully, adeptly, accurately, efficiently. 5. suitably. 6. fully, amply. 7. rather, quite. 11. healthy, hale, hearty. 12. fine. 13. suitable, befitting, appropriate. 14. fortunate, happy.

Antonyms:
3. poorly, badly. 11. ill, sick.

Usage note:
See good.
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well

2  [wel]
–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.
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.
a. a part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other.
b. 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.
–verb (used without object)
9. to rise, spring, or gush, as water, from the earth or some other source (often fol. by up, out, or forth): Tears welled up in my eyes.
–verb (used with object)
10. to send welling up or forth: a fountain welling its pure water.
–adjective
11. like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well.
Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME well(e), OE wylle, wella, welle; c. G Welle wave; (v.) ME wellen, OE wellan (c. D wellen, ON vella); both n. and v. ult. akin to weallan to boil

Synonyms:
3. store, fund, mine, fount.

we'll

  [weel; unstressed wil]
contraction of we will.
Usage note:
See contraction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To well
well 1   (wěl)   
n.  
  1. A deep hole or shaft sunk into the earth to obtain water, oil, gas, or brine.
  2. A container or reservoir for a liquid, such as ink.
    1. A place where water issues from the earth; a spring or fountain.
    2. A mineral spring.
    3. wells A watering place; a spa.
    4. An enclosure in a ship's hold for the pumps.
    5. A compartment or recessed area in a ship, used for stowage: an anchor well.
    6. A part of a ship's weather deck enclosed between two watertight bulkheads.
  4. An abundant source: a well of information.
  5. An open space extending vertically through the floors of a building, as for stairs or ventilation.
  6. Nautical
    1. An enclosure in a ship's hold for the pumps.
    2. A compartment or recessed area in a ship, used for stowage: an anchor well.
    3. A part of a ship's weather deck enclosed between two watertight bulkheads.
  7. A cistern with a perforated bottom in the hold of a fishing vessel for keeping fish alive.
  8. An enclosed space for receiving and holding something, such as the wheels of an airplane when retracted.
  9. Chiefly British The central space in a law court, directly in front of the judge's bench, where the counsel or solicitor sits.
v.   welled, well·ing, wells

v.   intr.
  1. To rise to the surface, ready to flow: Tears welled in my eyes.
  2. To rise or surge from an inner source: Anger welled up in me.
v.   tr.
To pour forth.

[Middle English welle, from Old English; see wel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
well 2   (wěl)   
adv.   bet·ter (bět'ər), best (běst)
  1. In a good or proper manner: behaved well.
  2. Skillfully or proficiently: dances well.
  3. Satisfactorily or sufficiently: slept well.
  4. Successfully or effectively: gets along well with people.
  5. In a comfortable or affluent manner: lived well.
  6. In a manner affording benefit or gain; advantageously: married well.
  7. With reason or propriety; reasonably: can't very well say no.
  8. In all likelihood; indeed: You may well need your umbrella.
  9. In a prudent or sensible manner: You would do well to say nothing more.
  10. In a close or familiar manner: knew them well.
  11. In a favorable or approving manner: spoke well of them.
  12. Thoroughly; completely: well cooked; cooked well.
  13. Perfectly; clearly: I well understand your intentions.
  14. To a suitable or appropriate degree: This product will answer your needs equally well.
  15. To a considerable extent or degree: well over the estimate.
  16. With care or attention: listened well.
  17. Entirely; fully: well worth seeing.
adj.   better, best
  1. In a satisfactory condition; right or proper: All is well.
    1. Not ailing, infirm, or diseased; healthy. See Synonyms at healthy.
    2. Cured or healed, as a wound.
    3. Of or characterized by the maintenance of good health practices. Often used in combination: a well-baby clinic; a well-child visit to the doctor.
    4. Advisable; prudent: It would be well not to ask.
    5. Fortunate; good: It is well that you stayed.
    1. Advisable; prudent: It would be well not to ask.
    2. Fortunate; good: It is well that you stayed.
interj.  
  1. Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation.
  2. Used to express surprise.

[Middle English wel, from Old English; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: English speakers have used well both as an adjective and as an adverb since Old English times. When applied to people, the adjective well usually refers to a state of health. Like similar adjectives, such as ill and faint, well in this use is normally restricted to the predicate, as in He hasn't been well lately. Well does see occasional use before a noun, as in Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Dick eats like a well man, and drinks like a sick." It also appears in compound adjectives like well-baby, which is well known to pediatricians and recent parents. Good, on the other hand, has a much wider range of senses, including "attractive," as in He looks good, and "competent," as in She's pretty good for a beginner, as well as "healthy." See Usage Note at good.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Well

Well\, n. [OE. welle, AS. wella, wylla, from weallan to well up, surge, boil; akin to D. wel a spring or fountain. ????. See Well, v. i.]

1. An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain.

Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well. --Milton.

2. A pit or hole sunk into the earth to such a depth as to reach a supply of water, generally of a cylindrical form, and often walled with stone or bricks to prevent the earth from caving in.

The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. --John iv. 11.

3. A shaft made in the earth to obtain oil or brine.

4. Fig.: A source of supply; fountain; wellspring. "This well of mercy." --Chaucer.

Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled. --Spenser.

A well of serious thought and pure. --Keble.

5. (Naut.) (a) An inclosure in the middle of a vessel's hold, around the pumps, from the bottom to the lower deck, to preserve the pumps from damage and facilitate their inspection. (b) A compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water for the preservation of fish alive while they are transported to market. (c) A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of water. (d) A depressed space in the after part of the deck; -- often called the cockpit.

6. (Mil.) A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.

7. (Arch.) An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.

8. (Metal.) The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.

Artesian well, Driven well. See under Artesian, and Driven.

Pump well. (Naut.) See Well, 5 (a), above.

Well boring, the art or process of boring an artesian well.

Well drain. (a) A drain or vent for water, somewhat like a well or pit, serving to discharge the water of wet land. (b) A drain conducting to a well or pit.

Well room. (a) A room where a well or spring is situated; especially, one built over a mineral spring. (b) (Naut.) A depression in the bottom of a boat, into which water may run, and whence it is thrown out with a scoop.

Well sinker, one who sinks or digs wells.

Well sinking, the art or process of sinking or digging wells.

Well staircase (Arch.), a staircase having a wellhole (see Wellhole (b) ), as distinguished from one which occupies the whole of the space left for it in the floor.

Well sweep. Same as Sweep, n., 12.

Well water, the water that flows into a well from subterraneous springs; the water drawn from a well.

Well

Well\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Welled; p. pr. & vb. n. Welling.] [OE. wellen, AS. wyllan, wellan, fr. weallan; akin to OFries. walla, OS. & OHG. wallan, G. wallen, Icel. vella, G. welle, wave, OHG. wella, walm, AS. wylm; cf. L. volvere to roll, Gr. ? to inwrap, ? to roll. Cf. Voluble, Wallop to boil, Wallow, Weld of metal.] To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring. "[Blood] welled from out the wound." --Dryden. "[Yon spring] wells softly forth." --Bryant.

From his two springs in Gojam's sunny realm, Pure welling out, he through the lucid lake Of fair Dambea rolls his infant streams. --Thomson.

Well

Well\, v. t. To pour forth, as from a well. --Spenser.

Well

Well\, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v["a]l, Goth. wa['i]la; originally meaning, according to one's will or wish. See Will, v. t., and cf. Wealth.]

1. In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly.

If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. --Gen. iv. 7.

2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly.

Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. --Gen. xiii. 10.

WE are wellable to overcome it. --Num. xiii. 30.

She looketh well to the ways of her household. --Prov. xxxi. 27.

Servant of God, well done! well hast thou fought The better fight. --Milton.

3. Fully or about; -- used with numbers. [Obs.] "Well a ten or twelve." --Chaucer.

Well nine and twenty in a company. --Chaucer.

4. In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently. "It boded well to you." --Dryden.

Know In measure what the mind may well contain. --Milton.

All the world speaks well of you. --Pope.

5. Considerably; not a little; far.

Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. --Gen. xviii. 11.

Note: Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, as an expression of satisfaction with what has been said or done, and sometimes it expresses concession, or is merely expletive; as, well, the work is done; well, let us go; well, well, be it so.

Note: Well, like above, ill, and so, is used before many participial adjectives in its usual adverbial senses, and subject to the same custom with regard to the use of the hyphen (see the Note under Ill, adv.); as, a well-affected supporter; he was well affected toward the project; a well-trained speaker; he was well trained in speaking; well-educated, or well educated; well-dressed, or well dressed; well-appearing; well-behaved; well-controlled; well-designed; well-directed; well-formed; well-meant; well-minded; well-ordered; well-performed; well-pleased; well-pleasing; well-seasoned; well-steered; well-tasted; well-told, etc. Such compound epithets usually have an obvious meaning, and since they may be formed at will, only a few of this class are given in the Vocabulary.

As well. See under As.

As well as, and also; together with; not less than; one as much as the other; as, a sickness long, as well as severe; London is the largest city in England, as well as the capital.

Well enough, well or good in a moderate degree; so as to give satisfaction, or so as to require no alteration.

Well off, in good condition; especially, in good condition as to property or any advantages; thriving; prosperous.

Well to do, well off; prosperous; -- used also adjectively. "The class well to do in the world." --J. H. Newman.

Well to live, in easy circumstances; well off; well to do. --Shak.

Well

Well\, a. 1. Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for the country that the crops did not fail; it is well that the mistake was discovered.

It was well with us in Egypt. --Num. xi. 18.

2. Being in health; sound in body; not ailing, diseased, or sick; healthy; as, a well man; the patient is perfectly well. "Your friends are well." --Shak.

Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? --Gen. xliii. 27.

3. Being in favor; favored; fortunate.

He followed the fortunes of that family, and was well with Henry the Fourth. --Dryden.

4. (Marine Insurance) Safe; as, a chip warranted well at a certain day and place. --Burrill.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : well
Spanish: bien, *mal educado,
German: mit, *von gutem, schlechten Benehmen,
Japanese: 行儀のよい (悪い)
More Translations »

well  (adv.)
"in a satisfactory manner," O.E. wel, common Gmc. (cf. O.S. wela, O.N. vel, O.Fris. wel, Du. wel, O.H.G. wela, Ger. wohl, Goth. waila "well"), from PIE *wel-, *wol- (cf. Skt. prati varam "at will," O.C.S. vole "well," Welsh gwell "better," L. velle "to wish, will," O.E. willan "to wish;" see will (v.)). Also used as an interjection and an expression of surprise in O.E. Well-to-do "prosperous" is recorded from 1825.

well  (v.)
"to spring, rise, gush," O.E. wiellan (Anglian wællan), causative of weallan "to boil, bubble up" (class VII strong verb; past tense weoll, pp. weallen), from P.Gmc. *wal-, *wel- "roll" (cf. O.S. wallan, O.N. vella, O.Fris. walla, O.H.G. wallan, Ger. wallen, Goth. wulan "to bubble, boil"), from PIE base *wel- "to turn, roll" (see vulva), on notion of "roiling or bubbling water."

well  (n.)
"hole dug for water, spring of water," O.E. wielle (W.Saxon), welle (Anglian), from wiellan (see well (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: well
Pronunciation: 'wel
Function: adjective
1 : free or recovered from infirmity or disease : HEALTHY well person>
2 : completely cured or healed well>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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well   (wěl)  Pronunciation Key 
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. See also artesian well.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Well

(Heb. beer), to be distinguished from a fountain (Heb. 'ain). A "beer" was a deep shaft, bored far under the rocky surface by the art of man, which contained water which percolated through the strata in its sides. Such wells were those of Jacob and Beersheba, etc. (see Gen. 21:19, 25, 30, 31; 24:11; 26:15, 18-25, 32, etc.). In the Pentateuch this word beer, so rendered, occurs twenty-five times.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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well

In addition to the idioms beginning with well, also see alive and kicking (well); all's well that ends well; all very 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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Save Water Now
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 www.BeWaterWise.com
Mobile Banking Online
 Transfer Money, Find ATMs, & Check Your Balances From Your Cell Phone.
 www.WellsFargo.com/Mobile