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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
   "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"; "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
   "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 foetus has well developed organs"; "his father was well pleased with his grades"
    
6. Favourably; with approval
   "their neighbours spoke well of them"; "he thought well of the book"
    
7. 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
    
8. With great or especially intimate knowledge
   "we knew them well";
   - intimately
    
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"
     
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
    
2. A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
    
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)
    
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

1. Resulting favourably
   "it is well that no one saw you"; "all's well that ends well";
   - good
    
2. Wise or advantageous and hence advisable
   "it would be well to start early"
    
3. 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"

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.
   - indeed, well well

1. We shall, we shall

Derived forms: wells, welled, welling

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, sick

Encyclopedia: Well, Well, Well