well 1 (w?l)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.3. a. A place where water issues from the earth; a spring or fountain.b. A mineral spring.c. wells A watering place; a spa.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 a. An enclosure in a ship’s hold for the pumps.b. A compartment or recessed area in a ship, used for stowage: an anchor well.c. 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- in Indo-European roots.]well 2 (w?l)adv. bet·ter (b?t??r), best (b?st) 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.2. a. Not ailing, infirm, or diseased; healthy. See Synonyms at healthy.b. Cured or healed, as a wound.c. 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.3. a. Advisable; prudent: It would be well not to ask.b. 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.Idioms: as well1. In addition; also: mentioned other matters as well.2. With equal effect: I might as well go. in well with Informal In a position to influence or be favored by: He’s in well with management.[Middle English wel, from Old English; see wel- 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 and well-child, which are widely used by health-care providers. 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.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.well (w?l) adv, better or best1. (often used in combination) in a satisfactory manner: the party went very well. 2. (often used in combination) in a good, skilful, or pleasing manner: she plays the violin well. 3. in a correct or careful manner: listen well to my words. 4. in a comfortable or prosperous manner: to live well. 5. (usually used with auxiliaries) suitably; fittingly: you can’t very well say that. 6. intimately: I knew him well. 7. in a kind or favourable manner: she speaks well of you. 8. to a great or considerable extent; fully: to be well informed. 9. by a considerable margin: let me know well in advance. 10. (preceded by: could, might, or may) indeed: you may well have to do it yourself. 11. informal (intensifier): well safe. 12. all very well used ironically to express discontent, dissent, etc13. as well a. in addition; toob. (preceded by: may or might) with equal effect: you might as well come. c. just as well preferable or advisable: it would be just as well if you paid me now. 14. just as well preferable or advisable: it would be just as well if you paid me now. 15. as well as in addition to16. just leave well alone just leave well enough alone to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory17. well and good used to indicate calm acceptance, as of a decision: if you accept my offer, well and good. 18. well up in well acquainted with (a particular subject); knowledgeable aboutadj (usually postpositive) 19. (when prenominal, usually used with a negative) in good health: I’m very well, thank you; he’s not a well man. 20. satisfactory, agreeable, or pleasing21. prudent; advisable: it would be well to make no comment. 22. prosperous or comfortable23. fortunate or happy: it is well that you agreed to go. interja. an expression of surprise, indignation, or reproofb. an expression of anticipation in waiting for an answer or remarksentence connectoran expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etc: well, I don’t think I will come. [Old English wel; related to Old High German wala, wola (German wohl), Old Norse val, Gothic waila]well (w?l) n1. (Civil Engineering) a hole or shaft that is excavated, drilled, bored, or cut into the earth so as to tap a supply of water, oil, gas, etc2. (Mining & Quarrying) a hole or shaft that is excavated, drilled, bored, or cut into the earth so as to tap a supply of water, oil, gas, etc3. (Physical Geography) a natural pool where ground water comes to the surface4. a. a cavity, space, or vessel used to contain a liquidb. (in combination): an inkwell. 5. (Building) an open shaft through the floors of a building, such as one used for a staircase6. (Building) a deep enclosed space in a building or between buildings that is open to the sky to permit light and air to enter7. (Nautical Terms) a. a bulkheaded compartment built around a ship’s pumps for protection and ease of accessb. another word for cockpit8. (Fishing) a perforated tank in the hold of a fishing boat for keeping caught fish alive9. (Law) (in England) the open space in the centre of a law court10. a source, esp one that provides a continuous supply: he is a well of knowledge. vbto flow or cause to flow upwards or outwards: tears welled from her eyes. [Old English wella; related to Old High German wella (German Welle wave), Old Norse vella boiling heat]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014well1 (w?l) adv., adj. compar. bet?ter, superl. best, adv. 1. in a good or satisfactory manner: Our plans are going well. 2. thoroughly, carefully, or soundly: Shake well before using. 3. in a moral or proper manner: to behave well. 4. commendably, meritoriously, or excellently: a difficult task well handled. 5. with propriety, justice, or reason: I could not well refuse. 6. with favor or approval: to think well of someone. 7. comfortably or prosperously: to live well. 8. to a considerable extent or degree: a sum well over the amount agreed upon. 9. with great or intimate knowledge: to know a person well. 10. certainly; without doubt: I cry easily, as you well know. 11. with good nature; without rancor: He took the joke well. adj. 12. in good health; sound in body and mind: He is not a well man. 13. satisfactory, pleasing, or good: All is well with us. 14. proper, fitting, or gratifying: It is well that you didn’t go. 15. in a satisfactory position; well-off: I am very well as I am. interj. 16. (used to express surprise, reproof, etc.): Well! There’s no need to shout. 17. (used to introduce a sentence, resume a conversation, etc.): Well, it’s time to go home. n. 18. well-being; good fortune; success: to wish well to someone. Idioms: 1. as well, in addition; also; too. 2. as well as, as much or as truly as; equally as: witty as well as kind. 3. leave well enough alone, to avoid changing something that is satisfactory. [before 900; Middle English, Old English wel(l) (adj. and adv.), c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon wel, Old Norse vel] well?ness, n. usage: See good. well2 (w?l) n. 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.: a well of compassion. 4. a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid, as ink. 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. 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. 7. Naut. a part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other. v.i. 8. 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. v.t. 9. to send welling up or forth. adj. 10. like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well. [before 900; (n.) Middle English well(e), Old English wylle, wella, c. Old High German welle wave; (v.) Middle English; Old English weallan to boil, melt, c. Old Saxon, Old High German wallan] we’ll (wil; unstressed w?l) contraction of we shall or we will. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Well a source of supply.Examples: well of all courage, 1377; of all crafts, 1377; of gentleness, 1440; of grace, c. 1300; of mercy; of mischief, 1538; of pity, 1530; of tears, 1382; of serious thought; of wisdom, 1225.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.good – well1. ‘good’Something that is good is pleasant, acceptable, or satisfactory. The comparative form of good is better. The superlative form is best.Good is never an adverb. If you want to say that something is done to a high standard or to a great extent, you use well, not ‘good’.The comparative form of well is better. The superlative form is best.In conversation, people sometimes say well when they are about to make a statement. Well can show that someone is hesitating or uncertain, but sometimes it has no meaning at all.In conversation, people also use well when they are correcting something they have just said.Well is very commonly an adverb.You use well to say that something is done to a high standard or to a great extent.You use well to emphasize some -ed participles when they are part of a passive construction.When well is used with an -ed participle like this to make a compound adjective that comes before a noun, the compound usually has a hyphen.When the compound adjective comes after a verb, don’t use a hyphen.You also use well in front of some prepositions such as ahead of and behind.When well is an adverb, its comparative and superlative forms are better and best.Well is also an adjective. If you are well, you are healthy and not ill.Most British speakers do not use well in front of a noun. They don’t say, for example, ‘He’s a well man’. They say ‘He’s well’. However, American and Scottish speakers sometimes use well in front of a noun.When well is an adjective, it does not have a comparative form. However, you can use better to say that the health of a sick person has improved. When better is used like this, it means ‘less ill’.Better is more commonly used to say that someone has completely recovered from an illness or injury.You use as well when you are giving more information about something.