well

/wɛl/

adjective

  1. 1

    In good health.

    I had been sick, but now I'm well.
  2. 2

    Good, content.

    “How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”
  3. 3

    Prudent; good; well-advised.

adverb

  1. 1

    (manner) Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.

    He does his job well.
  2. 2

    (manner) Completely, fully.

    We’re well beat now.
  3. 3

    (degree) To a significant degree.

    That author is well known.
  4. 4

    (degree) Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).

  5. 5

    In a desirable manner; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favourably; advantageously.

interjection

  1. 1

    Used to acknowledge a statement or situation.

    “I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”
  2. 2

    An exclamation of surprise (often doubled or tripled).

    Well, well, well, what do we have here?
  3. 3

    An exclamation of indignance.

    Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!
  4. 4

    Used in speech to express the overcoming of reluctance to say something.

    It was a bit... well... too loud.
  5. 5

    Used in speech to fill gaps, particularly at the beginning of a response to a question; filled pause.

    “So what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic, and then it started raining so we came home early.”
  6. 6

    (Hiberno-English) Used as a greeting

    Well lads. How's things?

noun

  1. 1

    A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.

  2. 2

    A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally; a spring.

  3. 3

    A small depression suitable for holding liquid or other objects.

    Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.
  4. 4

    A source of supply.

  5. 5

    A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.

  6. 6

    The cockpit of a sailboat.

  7. 7

    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 to keep fish alive while they are transported to market.

  8. 8

    A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of the water.

  9. 9

    A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.

  10. 10

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

  11. 11

    The open space between the bench and the counsel tables in a courtroom.

  12. 12

    The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.

  13. 13

    A well drink.

    They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.
  14. 14

    The playfield of Tetris and similar video games, into which the blocks fall.

  15. 15

    In a microtiter plate, each of the small equal circular or square sections which serve as test tubes.

Synonyms

verb

  1. 1

    To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.

  2. 2

    To have something seep out of the surface.

    Her eyes welled with tears.

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