WELL (best, better, better)

Pronunciation (US):

• WELL (noun)
  The noun WELL has 5 senses:

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
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

  Familiarity information: WELL used as a noun is common.

• WELL (adjective)
  The adjective WELL has 3 senses:

1. in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
2. resulting favorably
3. wise or advantageous and hence advisable

  Familiarity information: WELL used as an adjective is uncommon.

• WELL (verb)
  The verb WELL has 1 sense:

1. come up, as of a liquid

  Familiarity information: WELL used as a verb is very rare.

• WELL (adverb)
  The adverb WELL has 13 senses:

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')
2. thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
3. indicating high probability; in all likelihood
4. (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
5. to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
6. favorably; with approval
7. to a great extent or degree
8. with great or especially intimate knowledge
9. with prudence or propriety
10. with skill or in a pleasing manner
11. in a manner affording benefit or advantage
12. in financial comfort
13. without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor

  Familiarity information: WELL used as an adverb is familiar.

• WELL (noun)

Meaning:

A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):

excavation (a hole in the ground made by excavating)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):

artesian well (a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upward)

driven well; tube well (a well made by driving a tube into the earth to a stratum that bears water)

gas well (a well that yields or has yielded natural gas)

oil well; oiler (a well that yields or has yielded oil)

sump (a well or other hole in which water has collected)

Meaning:

A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):

vessel (an object used as a container (especially for liquids))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):

inkstand; inkwell (a small well holding writing ink into which a pen can be dipped)

Meaning:

An abundant source

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

fountainhead; wellspring; well

Context example:

she was a well of information

Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):

source (a document (or organization) from which information is obtained)

Meaning:

An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):

shaft (a vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):

stairwell (a vertical well around which there is a stairway)

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):

bilge well ((nautical) a well where seepage drains to be pumped away)

pump well (an enclosure in the middle of a ship's hold that protects the ship's pumps)

• WELL (adjective)

Meaning:

In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury

Context examples:

appears to be entirely well / the wound is nearly well / a well man / I think I'm well; at least I feel well

Similar:

asymptomatic; symptomless (having no symptoms of illness or disease)

cured; healed; recovered (freed from illness or injury)

Also:

fit; healthy (physically and mentally sound or healthy)

healthy (having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease)

Antonym:

ill (affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function)

Meaning:

Resulting favorably

Synonyms:

well; good

Context examples:

its a good thing that I wasn't there / it is good that you stayed / it is well that no one saw you / all's well that ends well

Similar:

fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)

Meaning:

Wise or advantageous and hence advisable

Context example:

it would be well to start early

Similar:

advisable (worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise)

• WELL (verb)

Meaning:

Come up, as of a liquid

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

well; swell

Context examples:

Tears well in her eyes / the currents well up

Hypernyms (to "well" is one way to...):

come up; rise; rise up; surface (come to the surface)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

• WELL (adverb)

Meaning:

(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')

Synonyms:

good; well

Context examples:

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 / the baby can walk pretty good

Domain usage:

combining form (a bound form used only in compounds)

Antonym:

ill (('ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well)

Meaning:

Thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form

Context examples:

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

Meaning:

Indicating high probability; in all likelihood

Synonyms:

well; easily

Context examples:

I might well do it / a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster / you may well need your umbrella / he could equally well be trying to deceive us

Meaning:

(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully

Context examples:

a book well worth reading / was well aware of the difficulties ahead / suspected only too well what might be going on

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

Meaning:

To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree

Context examples:

the project was well underway / the fetus has well developed organs / his father was well pleased with his grades

Meaning:

Favorably; with approval

Context examples:

their neighbors spoke well of them / he thought well of the book

Antonym:

ill (unfavorably or with disapproval)

Meaning:

To a great extent or degree

Synonyms:

substantially; considerably; well

Context examples:

I'm afraid the film was well over budget / painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger / the house has fallen considerably in value / the price went up substantially

Meaning:

With great or especially intimate knowledge

Synonyms:

intimately; well

Context example:

we knew them well

Meaning:

With prudence or propriety

Context examples:

You would do well to say nothing more / could not well refuse

Meaning:

With skill or in a pleasing manner

Context examples:

she dances well / he writes well

Antonym:

badly (without skill or in a displeasing manner)

Meaning:

In a manner affording benefit or advantage

Synonyms:

advantageously; well

Context examples:

she married well / The children were settled advantageously in Seattle

Antonym:

badly (in a disadvantageous way; to someone's disadvantage)

Meaning:

In financial comfort

Synonyms:

comfortably; well

Context examples:

They live well / she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died

Meaning:

Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor

Context examples:

took the joke well / took the tragic news well

Antonym:

badly (with unusual distress or resentment or regret or emotional display)