Library / English Dictionary

WELL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: best    , better    , better   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

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, chamber, 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)

Sense 3

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)

Sense 4

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)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An abundant source

Example:

she was a well of information

Synonyms:

fountainhead; well; wellspring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

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

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wise or advantageous and hence advisable

Example:

it would be well to start early

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Resulting favorably

Example:

all's well that ends well

Synonyms:

good; well

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury

Example:

I think I'm well; at least I feel well

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

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

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

Also:

fit (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)

Derivation:

wellness (a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come up, as of a liquid

Example:

the currents well up

Synonyms:

swell; well

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

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

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

 IV. (adverb) 

Sense 1

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')

Example:

the baby can walk pretty good

Synonyms:

good; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor

Example:

took the tragic news well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

Indicating high probability; in all likelihood

Example:

he could equally well be trying to deceive us

Synonyms:

easily; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Example:

well-educated

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 5

Meaning:

Favorably; with approval

Example:

he thought well of the book

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

ill (unfavorably or with disapproval)

Sense 6

Meaning:

To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree

Example:

his father was well pleased with his grades

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 7

Meaning:

In financial comfort

Example:

she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died

Synonyms:

comfortably; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 8

Meaning:

In a manner affording benefit or advantage

Example:

The children were settled advantageously in Seattle

Synonyms:

advantageously; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

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

Sense 9

Meaning:

To a great extent or degree

Example:

the price went up substantially

Synonyms:

considerably; substantially; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 10

Meaning:

With skill or in a pleasing manner

Example:

he writes well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

badly (without skill or in a displeasing manner)

Sense 11

Meaning:

With prudence or propriety

Example:

could not well refuse

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 12

Meaning:

With great or especially intimate knowledge

Example:

we knew them well

Synonyms:

intimately; well

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 13

Meaning:

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

Example:

suspected only too well what might be going on

Classified under:

Adverbs

Domain usage:

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

March 11 is one of the best days of the month.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Well, now, Watson, let us judge the situation by this new information.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Well, well, you did your best,” said Holmes, as we walked into our room.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

What I should have done had all gone well I do not know.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Serve you bloody well right if yer neck was broke!

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He fought by instinct, but he could fight by head as well.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

And I see that my words have been good in the ears of Bidarshik and that he will grow well again.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I said I had no doubt that Mr. Peggotty well deserved these treasures.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Well, now I promise you that when I am done with him you shall kiss him at your will. Now go! go!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Well, you'll know all right when we pull into McGurry.

(White Fang, by Jack London)