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well

 - 12 dictionary results

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.

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.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

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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Science Dictionary
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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Bible Dictionary

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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Idioms & Phrases

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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