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

09adverb

(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”

10adverb

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

“The problem is well understood”

“she was well informed”

11adverb

indicating high probability; in all likelihood

“I might well do it”

“a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster”

12adverb

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

“a book well worth reading”

“was well aware of the difficulties ahead”

13adverb

to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree

“the project was well underway”

“the fetus has well developed organs”

14adverb

favorably; with approval

“their neighbors spoke well of them”

“he thought well of the book”

15adverb

to a great extent or degree

“I'm afraid the film was well over budget”

“painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger”

16adverb

with great or especially intimate knowledge

“we knew them well”

17adverb

with prudence or propriety

“You would do well to say nothing more”

“could not well refuse”

18adverb

with skill or in a pleasing manner

“she dances well”

“he writes well”

19adverb

in a manner affording benefit or advantage

“she married well”

“The children were settled advantageously in Seattle”

20adverb

in financial comfort

“They live well”

“she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died”

21adverb

without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor

“took the joke well”

“took the tragic news well”

22verb

come up, as of a liquid

“Tears well in her eyes”

“the currents well up”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

PUT IT INTO A PHRASE

Expressions with “well”

All 27 entries ↗

Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

as well do well well up air well gas well get well oil well well out