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Synonyms

beginning, derivation, fountain, fountainhead, mother, parent, root, source, spring, gush, pour, run

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well - 18 dictionary results

well

1 [wel]

adverb, adjective, comparative bet⋅ter, superlative best, interjection, noun

–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

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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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)

View 30 other languages »

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.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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we'll

[weel; unstressed wil]

contraction of we will.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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well¹ (wěl) Pronunciation Key
n.

A deep hole or shaft sunk into the earth to obtain water, oil, gas, or brine.
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.
An abundant source: a well of information.
An open space extending vertically through the floors of a building, as for stairs or ventilation.
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.
A cistern with a perforated bottom in the hold of a fishing vessel for keeping fish alive.
An enclosed space for receiving and holding something, such as the wheels of an airplane when retracted.
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.

To rise to the surface, ready to flow: Tears welled in my eyes.
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.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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well² (wěl) Pronunciation Key
adv. bet·ter (bět'ər), best (běst)

In a good or proper manner: behaved well.
Skillfully or proficiently: dances well.
Satisfactorily or sufficiently: slept well.
Successfully or effectively: gets along well with people.
In a comfortable or affluent manner: lived well.
In a manner affording benefit or gain; advantageously: married well.
With reason or propriety; reasonably: can't very well say no.
In all likelihood; indeed: You may well need your umbrella.
In a prudent or sensible manner: You would do well to say nothing more.
In a close or familiar manner: knew them well.
In a favorable or approving manner: spoke well of them.
Thoroughly; completely: well cooked; cooked well.
Perfectly; clearly: I well understand your intentions.
To a suitable or appropriate degree: This product will answer your needs equally well.
To a considerable extent or degree: well over the estimate.
With care or attention: listened well.
Entirely; fully: well worth seeing.

adj. better, best

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.

Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation.
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 © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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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well
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" [ant: ill]
2.	resulting favorably; "it's a good thing that I wasn't there"; "it is good that you stayed"; "it is well that no one saw you"; "all's well that ends well" [syn: good]
3.	wise or advantageous and hence advisable; "it would be well to start early"
adverb
1.	(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" [ant: badly]
2.	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"
3.	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"
4.	(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"
5.	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"
6.	favorably; with approval; "their neighbors spoke well of them"; "he thought well of the book" [ant: badly]
7.	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"
8.	with great or especially intimate knowledge; "we knew them well"
9.	with prudence or propriety; "You would do well to say nothing more"; "could not well refuse"
10.	with skill or in a pleasing manner; "she dances well"; "he writes well" [ant: badly]
11.	in a manner affording benefit or advantage; "she married well"; "The children were settled advantageously in Seattle" [ant: badly]
12.	in financial comfort; "They live well"; "she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died"
13.	without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor; "took the joke well"; "took the tragic news well" [ant: badly]
noun
1.	a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
2.	a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
3.	an abundant source; "she was a well of information"
4.	an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
5.	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
verb
1.	come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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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 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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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 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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

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.

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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