well

well¹ W1S1 [wel] adv comparative better [ˈbetə US -ər] superlative best [best]

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(satisfactorily)¦

2¦(thoroughly)¦

3¦(a lot)¦

4 do well

5 as well

6 as well as something/somebody

7 may/might/could well

8 may/might/could (just) as well

9 can't very well (do something)

10 know full/perfectly well

11 speak/think well of somebody

12 well done!/well played!

13 well said!

14 be well away

15 be well in with somebody

16 be well out of something

17 be well up in/on something

18 as well somebody might/may

19 do well by somebody

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[: Old English; Origin: wel]

1.) ¦(SATISFACTORILY)¦

in a successful or satisfactory way

▪ Did you sleep well?

▪ James reads quite well for his age.

▪ All the team played very well today.

▪ Simon doesn't work well under pressure.

▪ The festival was very well organized.

▪ The concert went very well .

2.) ¦(THOROUGHLY)¦

in a thorough way

▪ Mix the flour and butter well.

▪ I know Birmingham quite well.

3.) ¦(A LOT)¦

a) a lot, or to a great degree

well before/after/above/below etc

▪ Stand well back from the bonfire.

▪ It was well after 12 o'clock when they arrived.

▪ The village is well below sea level.

▪ The amphitheatre is well worth a visit.

▪ I'm well aware of the problems involved.

▪ I went out and got well and truly (=completely) drunk.

b) [+ adjective] BrE informal very

▪ That was well funny!

4.) do well

a) to be successful, especially in work or business

▪ He's doing very well at college.

▪ Elizabeth's done well for herself since she moved to London.

b) if someone who has been ill is doing well, they are becoming healthy again

▪ He had the operation yesterday, and he's doing very well.

5.) as well

in addition to something or someone else

▪ Why don't you come along as well?

see usage note ↑also

6.) as well as sth/sb

in addition to something or someone else

▪ They own a house in France as well as a villa in Spain.

as well as doing sth

▪ The organization gives help and support to people in need, as well as raising money for local charities.

7.) may/might/could well

used to say that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true

▪ What you say may well be true.

▪ You could try the drugstore, but it might well be closed by now.

8.) may/might/could (just) as well

a) informal used when you do not particularly want to do something but you decide you should do it

▪ I suppose we may as well get started.

b) used to mean that another course of action would have an equally good result

▪ The taxi was so slow we might just as well have gone on the bus.

9.) can't very well (do sth)

used to say that you cannot do something because it would be unacceptable

▪ I can't very well tell him we don't want him at the party!

10.) know full/perfectly well

used to say that someone does know something even though they are behaving as if they do not

▪ You know full well what I mean.

11.) speak/think well of sb

to talk about someone in an approving way or to have a favourable opinion of them

▪ Sue has always spoken well of you.

12.) well done!/well played!

spoken used to praise someone when you think they have done something very well

13.) well said!

spoken used to say that you agree with what someone has just said, or that you admire them for saying it

14.) be well awayBrE informal

a) to be making good progress

▪ If we can get that grant from the local authority, we'll be well away.

b) to be very drunk

15.) be well in with sb informal

to have a friendly relationship with someone, especially someone important

▪ She's very well in with members of the management committee.

16.) be well out of sth

BrE spoken to be lucky to no longer be involved in a particular situation

17.) be well up in/on sth

informal especially BrE to know a lot about a particular subject

▪ Geoff's always been well up on the lnternet.

18.) as well sb might/may

formal used to say that there is a good reason for someone's feelings or reactions

▪ Marilyn looked guilty, as well she might.

19.) do well by sb informal

to treat someone generously

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

GRAMMAR: well, good

Good is an adjective : a good attempt |Her English is very good.

!! Good is not used as an adverb in standard English. Use well : He speaks English extremely well.

The comparative form of both good and well is better : His first book was better. (adj) |We'll play better next time. (adv)

The superlative form of both good and well is best : Who is the best singer? (adj) |You can use brown or white sugar, but brown works best. (adv)

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

well ²

well² W1S1 interjection

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(emphasizing something)¦

2¦(pausing)¦

3¦(accepting a situation)¦

4¦(showing surprise)¦

5¦(showing anger)¦

6¦(final remark)¦

7¦(expressing doubt)¦

8¦(changing something)¦

9¦(agreeing)¦

10¦(continuing a story)¦

11¦(asking a question)¦

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1.) ¦(EMPHASIZING SOMETHING)¦

used to emphasize something you are saying

▪ Well, I think it's a good idea anyway.

▪ Well, I've had enough and I'm going home!

▪ 'James doesn't want to come to the cinema with us.' ' Well then , let's go on our own.'

2.) ¦(PAUSING)¦

used to pause or give yourself time to think before saying something

▪ Well, let's see now, I could meet you on Thursday.

3.) ¦(ACCEPTING A SITUATION)¦ also oh well

used to show that you accept a situation even though you feel disappointed or annoyed about it

▪ Well, I did my best - I can't do any more than that.

▪ Oh well, we'll just have to cancel the holiday, I suppose.

4.) ¦(SHOWING SURPRISE)¦ also well, well, (well)

used to express surprise or amusement

▪ Well, so Steve got the job?

▪ Well, well, well, I didn't think I'd see you here.

5.) ¦(SHOWING ANGER)¦

used to express anger or disapproval

▪ Well, she could at least have phoned to say she wasn't coming!

6.) ¦(FINAL REMARK)¦

used to show that you are about to finish speaking or doing something

▪ Well, that's all for today.

▪ Well, that's the last one done.

7.) ¦(EXPRESSING DOUBT)¦

used to show that you are not sure about something

▪ 'Will you be in on Friday evening?' 'Well, it depends.'

8.) ¦(CHANGING SOMETHING)¦

used to slightly change something that you have said

▪ He's rolling in money! Well, he's got a lot more than me, anyway.

9.) ¦(AGREEING)¦

very well

formal used to show that you agree with an idea or accept a suggestion

▪ 'Very well,' he said. 'I accept.'

10.)¦(CONTINUING A STORY)¦

used to continue a story you are telling people, especially in order to make it seem more interesting

▪ You know that couple I was telling you about the other day? Well, last night I saw a police car in front of their house!

11.) ¦(ASKING A QUESTION)¦

Well?

used to ask someone to answer a question you have asked them, when you are angry with them

▪ Well? What have you got to say for yourself?

well ³

well³ S1 adj comparative better superlative best

1.) healthy

▪ 'How are you?' 'Very well, thanks.'

▪ I don't feel very well .

▪ You're looking very well .

▪ I hope you get well again soon.

2.) it is just as well (that)

spoken used to say that things have happened in a good or fortunate way

▪ It's just as well I kept some money aside for emergencies.

3.) it's/that's all very well, but ...

spoken used to say that something seems to be a good idea, but is not really possible or helpful

▪ It's all very well the doctors telling me I've got to rest, but who's going to look after my children?

4.) that's/it's all well and good

spoken especially BrE used to say that something is good or enjoyable, but it also has some disadvantages

▪ Going off on foreign holidays is all well and good, but you've got to get back to reality sometime.

5.) it might/would be as well

spoken used to give someone advice or make a helpful suggestion

▪ It might be as well to make him rest for a few days.

6.) all is well/all is not well

formal used to say that a situation is satisfactory or not satisfactory

▪ All is not well with their marriage.

7.) all's well that ends well

used after a situation has ended in a satisfactory way

well ⁴

well⁴ n

[: Old English; Origin: welle]

1.) a deep hole in the ground from which people take water

▪ She lowered her bucket into the well.

2.) an ↑oil well

3.) the space in a tall building where the stairs are

well ⁵

well⁵ also well up v [i]literary

[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: well 'to cause to boil' (11-15 centuries), from Old English wellan]

1.) if a liquid wells or wells up, it comes to the surface of something and starts to flow out

▪ I felt tears well up in my eyes.

2.) if a feeling wells or wells up in you, you start to feel it strongly

▪ Anger welled up within him.