Good vs. Well

Goodadjective

(of people)

Welladverb

(manner) Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.

‘He does his job well.’;

Goodadjective

Acting in the interest of what is beneficial, ethical, or moral.

‘good intentions’;

Welladverb

(manner) Completely, fully.

‘a well done steak’; ‘We’re well beat now.’;

Goodadjective

Competent or talented.

‘a good swimmer’;

Welladverb

(degree) To a significant degree.

‘That author is well known.’;

Goodadjective

Able to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; of unimpaired credit.

‘Can you lend me fifty dollars? You know I'm good for it.’;

Welladverb

Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).

Goodadjective

(US) Satisfied or at ease

‘Would you like a glass of water? — I'm good.’; ‘[Are] you good? — Yeah, I'm fine.’;

Welladverb

In a desirable manner; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favourably; advantageously.

Goodadjective

(of capabilities)

Welladjective

In good health.

‘I had been sick, but now I'm well.’;

Goodadjective

Useful for a particular purpose; functional.

‘it’s a good watch;’; ‘the flashlight batteries are still good’;

Welladjective

(hypercorrect) Good, content.

‘“How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”’;

Goodadjective

Effective.

‘a good worker’;

Welladjective

(archaic) Prudent; good; well-advised.

Goodadjective

(obsolete) Real; actual; serious.

‘in good sooth’;

Wellinterjection

Used to acknowledge a statement or situation.

‘“The car is broken.” “Well, we could walk to the movies instead.”’; ‘“I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”’; ‘“I forgot to pack the tent! Well, I guess we're sleeping under the stars tonight.”’;

Goodadjective

(of properties and qualities)

Wellinterjection

An exclamation of surprise, often doubled or tripled.

‘Well, well, well, what do we have here?’;

Goodadjective

(of food)

Wellinterjection

An exclamation of indignance.

‘Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!’;

Goodadjective

Healthful.

‘carrots are good for you;’; ‘walking is good for you’;

Wellinterjection

Used in speech to express the overcoming of reluctance to say something.

‘It was a bit... well... too loud.’;

Goodadjective

Pleasant; enjoyable.

‘the music, dancing, and food were very good;’; ‘we had a good time’;

Wellinterjection

Used in speech to fill gaps; filled pause.

‘“So what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic, and then it started raining so we came home early.”’;

Goodadjective

Favourable.

‘a good omen;’; ‘good weather’;

Wellinterjection

(Hiberno-English) Used as a greeting

‘Well lads. How's things?’;

Goodadjective

Beneficial; worthwhile.

‘a good job’;

Wellnoun

A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.

Goodadjective

Adequate; sufficient; not fallacious.

Wellnoun

A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally; a spring.

Goodadjective

Very, extremely.

‘The soup is good and hot.’;

Wellnoun

A small depression suitable for holding liquid or other objects.

‘Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.’;

Goodadjective

Holy especially when capitalized .

‘Good Friday’;

Wellnoun

(figurative) A source of supply.

Goodadjective

(of quantities)

Wellnoun

(nautical) A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.

Goodadjective

Reasonable in amount.

‘all in good time’;

Wellnoun

(nautical) The cockpit of a sailboat.

Goodadjective

Large in amount or size.

‘a good while longer;’; ‘a good number of seeds;’; ‘A good part of his day was spent shopping.’; ‘It will be a good while longer until he's done.’; ‘He's had a good amount of troubles, he has.’;

Wellnoun

(nautical) A compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive while they are transported to market.

Goodadjective

Full; entire; at least as much as.

‘This hill will take a good hour and a half to climb.’; ‘The car was a good ten miles away.’;

Wellnoun

(nautical) A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of the water.

Goodinterjection

That is good; an elliptical exclamation of satisfaction or commendation.

‘Good! I can leave now.’;

Wellnoun

(military) A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.

Goodadverb

(nonstandard) Well; satisfactorily or thoroughly.

Wellnoun

(architecture) An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.

Goodnoun

(uncountable) The forces or behaviours that are the enemy of evil. Usually consists of helping others and general benevolence.

Wellnoun

The open space between the bench and the counsel tables in a courtroom.

Goodnoun

(countable) A result that is positive in the view of the speaker.

Wellnoun

(metalworking) The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.

Goodnoun

(uncountable) The abstract instantiation of goodness; that which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.

‘The best is the enemy of the good.’;

Wellnoun

A well drink.

‘They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.’;

Goodnoun

An item of merchandise.

Wellnoun

(video games) The playfield of Tetris and similar video games, into which the blocks fall.

Goodverb

To thrive; fatten; prosper; improve.

Wellnoun

(biology) In a microtiter plate, each of the small equal circular or square sections which serve as test tubes.

Goodverb

To make good; turn to good; improve.

Wellverb

(intransitive) To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.

Goodverb

To make improvements or repairs.

Wellverb

(intransitive) To have something seep out of the surface.

‘Her eyes welled with tears.’;

Goodverb

To benefit; gain.

Wellnoun

An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain.

‘Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well.’;

Goodverb

To do good to (someone); benefit; cause to improve or gain.

Wellnoun

A pit or hole sunk into the earth to such a depth as to reach a supply of water, generally of a cylindrical form, and often walled with stone or bricks to prevent the earth from caving in.

‘The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.’;

Goodverb

To satisfy; indulge; gratify.

Wellnoun

A shaft made in the earth to obtain oil or brine.

Goodverb

To flatter; congratulate oneself; anticipate.

Wellnoun

Fig.: A source of supply; fountain; wellspring.

‘Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled.’; ‘A well of serious thought and pure.’;

Goodverb

To furnish with dung; manure; fatten with manure; fertilise.

Wellnoun

An inclosure in the middle of a vessel's hold, around the pumps, from the bottom to the lower deck, to preserve the pumps from damage and facilitate their inspection.

Goodadjective

Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome, etc.

‘And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.’; ‘Good company, good wine, good welcome.’;

Wellnoun

A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.

Goodadjective

Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; - said of persons or actions.

‘In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.’;

Wellnoun

An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.

Goodadjective

Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; - often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto.

‘The men were very good unto us.’;

Wellnoun

The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.

Goodadjective

Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon; - followed especially by for.

‘All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit.’;

Wellverb

To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.

‘From his two springs in Gojam's sunny realm,Pure welling out, he through the lucid lakeOf fair Dambea rolls his infant streams.’;

Goodadjective

Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; - followed especially by at.

‘He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor.’; ‘Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else.’;

Wellverb

To pour forth, as from a well.

Goodadjective

Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious; valid; in a commercial sense, to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary ability; of unimpaired credit.

‘My reasons are both good and weighty.’; ‘My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond.’;

Welladverb

In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly.

‘If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.’;

Goodadjective

Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth.

‘Love no man in good earnest.’;

Welladverb

Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly.

‘Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere.’; ‘WE are wellable to overcome it.’; ‘She looketh well to the ways of her household.’; ‘Servant of God, well done! well hast thou foughtThe better fight.’;

Goodadjective

Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable; esp., in the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good degree, a good share or part, etc.

Welladverb

Fully or about; - used with numbers.

‘Well nine and twenty in a company.’;

Goodadjective

Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.

‘Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.’;

Welladverb

In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently.

‘KnowIn measure what the mind may well contain.’; ‘All the world speaks well of you.’;

Goodadjective

Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc.

‘A good name is better than precious ointment’; ‘The good woman never died after this, till she came to die for good and all.’; ‘Distinguished by good humor and good breeding.’; ‘My father always said I was born to be a good for nothing.’; ‘The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character.’; ‘The young count's good nature and easy persuadability were among his best characteristics.’; ‘The good will of a trade is nothing more than the probability that the old customers will resort to the old place.’; ‘Each word made good and true.’; ‘Of no power to make his wishes good.’; ‘I . . . would by combat make her good.’; ‘Convenient numbers to make good the city.’; ‘If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.’;

Welladverb

Considerably; not a little; far.

‘Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age.’;

Goodnoun

That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; - opposed to evil.

‘There be many that say, Who will show us any good ?’;

Welladjective

Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for the country that the crops did not fail; it is well that the mistake was discovered.

‘It was well with us in Egypt.’;

Goodnoun

Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; - opposed to harm, etc.

‘The good of the whole community can be promoted only by advancing the good of each of the members composing it.’;

Welladjective

Being in health; sound in body; not ailing, diseased, or sick; healthy; as, a well man; the patient is perfectly well.

‘Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake?’;

Goodnoun

Wares; commodities; chattels; - formerly used in the singular in a collective sense. In law, a comprehensive name for almost all personal property as distinguished from land or real property.

‘He hath made us spend much good.’; ‘Thy lands and goodsAre, by the laws of Venice, confiscateUnto the state of Venice.’;

Welladjective

Being in favor; favored; fortunate.

‘He followed the fortunes of that family, and was well with Henry the Fourth.’;

Goodadverb

Well, - especially in the phrase as good, with a following as expressed or implied; equally well with as much advantage or as little harm as possible.

‘As good almost kill a man as kill a good book.’; ‘They who counsel ye to such a suppressing, do as good as bid ye suppress yourselves.’;

Welladjective

Safe; as, a chip warranted well at a certain day and place.

Goodverb

To make good; to turn to good.

Wellnoun

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

Goodverb

To manure; to improve.

Wellnoun

a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid

Goodnoun

benefit;

‘for your own good’; ‘what's the good of worrying?’;

Wellnoun

an abundant source;

‘she was a well of information’;

Goodnoun

moral excellence or admirableness;

‘there is much good to be found in people’;

Wellnoun

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

Goodnoun

that which is good or valuable or useful;

‘weigh the good against the bad’; ‘among the highest goods of all are happiness and self-realization’;

Wellnoun

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

Goodadjective

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified;

‘good news from the hospital’; ‘a good report card’; ‘when she was good she was very very good’; ‘a good knife is one good for cutting’; ‘this stump will make a good picnic table’; ‘a good check’; ‘a good joke’; ‘a good exterior paint’; ‘a good secretary’; ‘a good dress for the office’;

Wellverb

come up;

‘Tears well in her eyes’;

Goodadjective

having the normally expected amount;

‘gives full measure’; ‘gives good measure’; ‘a good mile from here’;

Welladjective

in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury;

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

Goodadjective

morally admirable

Welladjective

resulting favorably;

‘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’;

Goodadjective

deserving of esteem and respect;

‘all respectable companies give guarantees’; ‘ruined the family's good name’;

Welladjective

wise or advantageous and hence advisable;

‘it would be well to start early’;

Goodadjective

promoting or enhancing well-being;

‘an arms limitation agreement beneficial to all countries’; ‘the beneficial effects of a temperate climate’; ‘the experience was good for her’;

Welladverb

(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’; ‘the party went well’; ‘he slept well’; ‘a well-argued thesis’; ‘a well-planned party’; ‘the baby can walk pretty good’;

Goodadjective

superior to the average;

‘in fine spirits’; ‘a fine student’; ‘made good grades’; ‘morale was good’; ‘had good weather for the parade’;

Welladverb

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

‘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’;

Goodadjective

agreeable or pleasing;

‘we all had a good time’; ‘good manners’;

Welladverb

indicating high probability; in all likelihood;

‘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’;

Goodadjective

of moral excellence;

‘a genuinely good person’; ‘a just cause’; ‘an upright and respectable man’; ‘the life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous’;

Welladverb

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

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

Goodadjective

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude;

‘adept in handicrafts’; ‘an adept juggler’; ‘an expert job’; ‘a good mechanic’; ‘a practiced marksman’; ‘a proficient engineer’; ‘a lesser-known but no less skillful composer’; ‘the effect was achieved by skillful retouching’;

Welladverb

to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree;

‘the project was well underway’; ‘the fetus has well developed organs’; ‘his father was well pleased with his grades’;

Goodadjective

thorough;

‘had a good workout’; ‘gave the house a good cleaning’;

Welladverb

favorably; with approval;

‘their neighbors spoke well of them’; ‘he thought well of the book’;

Goodadjective

with or in a close or intimate relationship;

‘a good friend’; ‘my sisters and brothers are near and dear’;

Welladverb

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’; ‘the house has fallen considerably in value’; ‘the price went up substantially’;

Goodadjective

having or showing or arising from a desire to promote the welfare or happiness of others;

‘his benevolent smile’; ‘a benevolent nature’;

Welladverb

with great or especially intimate knowledge;

‘we knew them well’;

Goodadjective

financially sound;

‘a good investment’; ‘a secure investment’;

Welladverb

with prudence or propriety;

‘You would do well to say nothing more’; ‘could not well refuse’;

Goodadjective

most suitable or right for a particular purpose;

‘a good time to plant tomatoes’; ‘the right time to act’; ‘the time is ripe for great sociological changes’;

Welladverb

with skill or in a pleasing manner;

‘she dances well’; ‘he writes well’;

Goodadjective

resulting favorably;

‘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’;

Welladverb

in a manner affording benefit or advantage;

‘she married well’; ‘The children were settled advantageously in Seattle’;

Goodadjective

exerting force or influence;

‘the law is effective immediately’; ‘a warranty good for two years’; ‘the law is already in effect (or in force)’;

Welladverb

in financial comfort;

‘They live well’; ‘she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died’;

Goodadjective

feeling healthy and free of aches and pains;

‘I feel good’;

Welladverb

without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor;

‘took the joke well’; ‘took the tragic news well’;

Goodadjective

capable of pleasing;

‘good looks’;

Goodadjective

appealing to the mind;

‘good music’; ‘a serious book’;

Goodadjective

in excellent physical condition;

‘good teeth’; ‘I still have one good leg’; ‘a sound mind in a sound body’;

Goodadjective

tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health;

‘beneficial effects of a balanced diet’; ‘a good night's sleep’; ‘the salutary influence of pure air’;

Goodadjective

not forged;

‘a good dollar bill’;

Goodadjective

not left to spoil;

‘the meat is still good’;

Goodadjective

generally admired;

‘good taste’;

Goodadverb

(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’; ‘the party went well’; ‘he slept well’; ‘a well-argued thesis’; ‘a well-planned party’; ‘the baby can walk pretty good’;

Goodadverb

in a complete and thorough manner (`good' is sometimes used informally for `thoroughly');

‘he was soundly defeated’; ‘we beat him good’;

Goodadjective

to be desired or approved of

‘Good! The more people the better!’; ‘a good quality of life’; ‘it's good that he's back to his old self’;

Goodadjective

pleasing and welcome

‘we've had some good news’; ‘it's good to see you again’;

Goodadjective

showing approval

‘the play had good reviews’;

Goodadjective

having the required qualities; of a high standard

‘his marks are just not good enough’; ‘a good restaurant’;

Goodadjective

skilled at doing or dealing with a specified thing

‘I'm good at crosswords’; ‘he was good with children’;

Goodadjective

healthy, strong, or well

‘she's not feeling too good’;

Goodadjective

useful, advantageous, or beneficial in effect

‘too much sun is not good for you’;

Goodadjective

appropriate to a particular purpose

‘this is a good month for planting seeds’;

Goodadjective

(of language) with correct grammar and pronunciation

‘she speaks good English’;

Goodadjective

strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular religion or cause

‘I am the eldest of five in a good Catholic family’;

Goodadjective

possessing or displaying moral virtue

‘her father was a good man’;

Goodadjective

showing kindness

‘it was good of you to come’;

Goodadjective

obedient to rules or conventions

‘accustom the child to being rewarded for good behaviour’;

Goodadjective

used to address or refer to people in a courteous, patronizing, or ironic way

‘a man very like your good self, in fact’; ‘the good lady of the house’;

Goodadjective

commanding respect

‘he was concerned with establishing and maintaining his good name’;

Goodadjective

belonging or relating to a high social class

‘he comes from a good family’;

Goodadjective

giving pleasure; enjoyable or satisfying

‘the streets fill up with people looking for a good time’;

Goodadjective

pleasant to look at; attractive

‘you're looking pretty good’;

Goodadjective

(of clothes) smart and suitable for formal wear

‘he went upstairs to change out of his good suit’;

Goodadjective

thorough

‘now is the time to have a really good clear-up’; ‘have a good look around’;

Goodadjective

used to emphasize that a number is at least as great as one claims

‘they're a good twenty years younger’;

Goodadjective

used to emphasize a following adjective or adverb

‘it'll be good and dark by then’; ‘we had a good long hug’;

Goodadjective

fairly large in number, amount, or size

‘there's a good chance that we may be able to help’; ‘the match attracted a good crowd’;

Goodadjective

valid

‘the ticket is good for travel from May to September’;

Goodadjective

likely to provide

‘she's always good for a laugh’;

Goodadjective

sufficient to pay for

‘his money was good for a bottle of whisky’;

Goodadjective

used in conjunction with the name of God or a related expression as an exclamation of extreme surprise or anger

‘good heavens!’;

Goodnoun

that which is morally right; righteousness

‘a mysterious balance of good and evil’;

Goodnoun

benefit or advantage to someone or something

‘he is too clever for his own good’; ‘he convinces his father to use his genius for the good of mankind’; ‘the preservation of old buildings matters because they contribute to the general public good’;

Goodnoun

merchandise or possessions

‘imports of luxury goods’; ‘the market price of an agricultural good’; ‘stolen goods’;

Goodnoun

things to be transported, as distinct from passengers

‘a means of transporting passengers as well as goods’; ‘a goods train’;

Goodnoun

the genuine article.

Goodadverb

well

‘I'm feeling pretty good, all things considered’; ‘my mother could never cook this good’;

Good

In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil, and is of interest in the study of morality, ethics, religion and philosophy.