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";
   - good [N. Amer]
    
2. Thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
   "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"; "The problem is well understood"; "she was well informed"
    
3. Indicating high probability; in all likelihood
   "I might well do it"; "you may well need your umbrella"; "he could equally well be trying to deceive us";
   - easily
    
4. (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
   "suspected only too well what might be going on"; "a book well worth reading"; "was well aware of the difficulties ahead"
    
5. To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
   "his father was well pleased with his grades"; "the project was well underway"; "the foetus has well developed organs"
    
6. To a great extent or degree
   "I'm afraid the film was well over budget"; "painting the room white made it seem well larger";
   - considerably, substantially
    
7. With skill or in a pleasing manner
   "she dances well"; "he writes well"
    
8. Favourably; with approval
   "their neighbours spoke well of them"; "he thought well of the book"
    
9. With prudence or propriety
   "You would do well to say nothing more"; "could not well refuse"
    
10. With great or especially intimate knowledge
    "we knew them well";
    - intimately
     
11. In a manner affording benefit or advantage
    "she married well";
    - advantageously
     
12. In financial comfort
    "They live well";
    - comfortably
     
13. Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humour
    "took the joke well"; "took the tragic news well"

1. A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
   "The village relied on a communal well for their water supply"
    
2. A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
   "The ink well on the antique desk was made of brass"
    
3. An abundant source
   "she was a well of information";
   - wellspring, fountainhead
    
4. An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
   "The spiral staircase wound its way up through the well of the tower"
    
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
   "The fishing boat had a well to keep the catch fresh"

1. In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
   "a well man"; "I think I'm well; at least I feel well"; "appears to be entirely well"; "the wound is nearly well"
    
2. Resulting favourably
   "it is well that no one saw you"; "all's well that ends well";
   - good
    
3. Wise or advantageous and hence advisable
   "it would be well to start early"

1. Come up, as of a liquid
   "the currents well up"; "Tears well in her eyes";
   - swell

1. Used to acknowledge a statement or situation, or introduce a conclusion, inference or question
   - well now, well then, welp [non-standard]
    
2. An expression of surprise, scepticism, irony etc.
   "Wants to marry the butler? well!";
   - indeed, well well

1. We shall, we will
   "We'll see you tomorrow"

Derived forms: welled, welling, wells

See also: advisable, asymptomatic, cured, fit, fortunate, healed, healthy, recovered, symptomless

Type of: come up, compartment, excavation, rise, rise up, shaft, source, surface, vessel

Antonym: badly, disadvantageously, ill

Encyclopedia: Well, Well, Well