Ask Difference

Sick vs. Well — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on September 15, 2023
Sick refers to being ill or not in good health, while Well signifies being in good health or satisfactory condition.
Sick vs. Well — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Sick and Well

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Key Differences

Sick and Well are terms that primarily pertain to health conditions. When someone is Sick, it denotes that they're suffering from an illness or not feeling their best. On the contrary, Well describes someone who is healthy and free from ailments, indicating positive health.
Sick can also refer to feeling nauseated or having a strong aversion to something. For instance, one might say, "That roller coaster made me sick." Meanwhile, Well can be used to confirm understanding or agreement, as in, "You understand the consequences? Well, then proceed."
Sick sometimes extends beyond physical health and can touch on mental or emotional states. When someone says, "I'm sick of this situation," they express exasperation or frustration. Conversely, Well can be employed to express surprise or realization, such as, "Well, I never expected that!"
Sick in slang can take on an entirely different meaning, suggesting that something is exceptionally good or cool. For example, "That's a sick skateboard!" In contrast, Well can be a preamble to an explanation or introduction, "Well, as I was saying..."
Within literature or art, being Sick could symbolize vulnerability, a need for care, or the human condition's fragility. Well, in such contexts, can represent strength, resilience, or the state of being untouched by external adversities.
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Comparison Chart

Basic Health Definition

Indicates illness or not feeling good
Signifies good health or satisfactory condition

Extended Meaning

Can mean nauseated or having a strong aversion
Used to confirm understanding or agreement

Emotional State

Refers to mental or emotional exhaustion
Expresses surprise or realization

Slang Use

Sometimes means exceptionally good or cool
Can introduce an explanation

Symbolism

Represents vulnerability or fragility in art and literature
Symbolizes strength or resilience in art and literature

Compare with Definitions

Sick

Affected by physical or mental illness.
She's been sick for a week.

Well

To a considerable degree.
The essay was well written.

Sick

Feeling nauseated.
The motion of the boat made him sick.

Well

In a satisfactory manner.
The event went well.

Sick

Tired of; fed up with.
I'm sick of all these delays.

Well

Used to express surprise or agreement.
Well, that's unexpected!

Sick

Deeply distressed; upset.
He's sick with worry.

Well

A source of water from the ground.
She drew water from the well.

Sick

Extremely good or impressive (slang).
That jump was absolutely sick!

Well

A deep hole or shaft sunk into the earth to obtain water, oil, gas, or brine.

Sick

Affected by physical or mental illness
Visiting the sick and the elderly
Nursing very sick children
Half my staff were off sick

Well

A container or reservoir for a liquid, such as ink.

Sick

Feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit
Mark felt sick with fear
He was starting to feel sick

Well

A place where water issues from the earth; a spring or fountain.

Sick

Intensely annoyed with or bored by (someone or something) as a result of having had too much of them
I'm absolutely sick of your moods

Well

A mineral spring.

Sick

Excellent.

Well

Wells A watering place; a spa.

Sick

Vomit
She was busy wiping sick from the carpet

Well

An abundant source
A well of information.

Sick

Bring something up by vomiting
She sicked up all over the carpet
He was passing blood and sicking it up

Well

An open space extending vertically through the floors of a building, as for stairs or ventilation.

Sick

Set a dog on
The plan was to surprise the heck out of the grizzly by sicking the dog on him

Well

An enclosure in a ship's hold for the pumps.

Sick

Suffering from or affected with a physical illness; ailing.

Well

A compartment or recessed area in a ship, used for stowage
An anchor well.

Sick

Of or for sick persons
Sick wards.

Well

A part of a ship's weather deck enclosed between two watertight bulkheads.

Sick

Nauseated.

Well

A cistern with a perforated bottom in the hold of a fishing vessel for keeping fish alive.

Sick

Mentally ill or disturbed.

Well

An enclosed space for receiving and holding something, such as the wheels of an airplane when retracted.

Sick

Unwholesome, morbid, or sadistic
A sick joke.
A sick crime.

Well

Chiefly British The central space in a law court, directly in front of the judge's bench, where the counsel or solicitor sits.

Sick

Defective; unsound
A sick economy.

Well

To rise to the surface, ready to flow
Tears welled in my eyes.

Sick

Deeply distressed; upset
Sick with worry.

Well

To rise or surge from an inner source
Anger welled up in me.

Sick

Disgusted; revolted.

Well

To pour forth.

Sick

Weary; tired
Sick of it all.

Well

In a good or proper manner
Behaved well.

Sick

Pining; longing
Sick for his native land.

Well

Skillfully or proficiently
Dances well.

Sick

In need of repairs
A sick ship.

Well

Satisfactorily or sufficiently
Slept well.

Sick

Constituting an unhealthy environment for those working or residing within
A sick office building.

Well

Successfully or effectively
Gets along well with people.

Sick

Unable to produce a profitable yield of crops
Sick soil.

Well

In a comfortable or affluent manner
Lived well.

Sick

(Slang) Excellent; outstanding
Did a sick run down the halfpipe.

Well

In a manner affording benefit or gain; advantageously
Married well.

Sick

Sick people considered as a group. Often used with the.

Well

With reason or propriety; reasonably
Can't very well say no.

Sick

Chiefly British Vomit.

Well

In all likelihood; indeed
You may well need your umbrella.

Sick

Variant of sic2.

Well

In a prudent or sensible manner
You would do well to say nothing more.

Sick

In poor health; ill.
She was sick all day with the flu.
We have to care for the sick.

Well

In a close or familiar manner
Knew them well.

Sick

Having an urge to vomit.

Well

In a favorable or approving manner
Spoke well of them.

Sick

(colloquial) Mentally unstable, disturbed.

Well

Thoroughly; completely
Well cooked.
Cooked well.

Sick

(colloquial) In bad taste.
That's a sick joke.

Well

Perfectly; clearly
I well understand your intentions.

Sick

Tired of or annoyed by something.
I've heard that song on the radio so many times that I'm starting to get sick of it.

Well

To a suitable or appropriate degree
This product will answer your needs equally well.

Sick

In poor condition.
Sick building syndrome; my car is looking pretty sick; my job prospects are pretty sick

Well

To a considerable extent or degree
Well over the estimate.

Sick

(agriculture) Failing to sustain adequate harvests of crop, usually specified.

Well

With care or attention
Listened well.

Sick

Vomit.
He lay there in a pool of his own sick.

Well

Entirely; fully
Well worth seeing.

Sick

(especially in the phrases on the sick and on long-term sick) Any of various current or former benefits or allowances paid by the Government to support the sick, disabled or incapacitated.

Well

In a satisfactory condition; right or proper
All is well.

Sick

(colloquial) To vomit.
I woke up at 4 am and sicked on the floor.

Well

Not ailing, infirm, or diseased; healthy.

Sick

To fall sick; to sicken.

Well

Cured or healed, as a wound.

Sick

(rare) sic

Well

Of or characterized by the maintenance of good health practices. Often used in combination
A well-baby clinic.
A well-child visit to the doctor.

Sick

Affected with disease of any kind; ill; indisposed; not in health. See the Synonym under Illness.
Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever.
Behold them that are sick with famine.

Well

Advisable; prudent
It would be well not to ask.

Sick

Affected with, or attended by, nausea; inclined to vomit; as, sick at the stomach; a sick headache.

Well

Fortunate; good
It is well that you stayed.

Sick

Having a strong dislike; disgusted; surfeited; - with of; as, to be sick of flattery.
He was not so sick of his master as of his work.

Well

Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation.

Sick

Corrupted; imperfect; impaired; weakned.
So great is his antipathy against episcopacy, that, if a seraphim himself should be a bishop, he would either find or make some sick feathers in his wings.

Well

Used to express surprise.

Sick

Sickness.

Well

(manner) Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.
He does his job well.

Sick

To fall sick; to sicken.

Well

(manner) Completely, fully.
A well done steak
We’re well beat now.

Sick

People who are sick;
They devote their lives to caring for the sick

Well

(degree) To a significant degree.
That author is well known.
A monument well worth seeing

Sick

Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth;
After drinking too much, the students vomited
He purged continuously
The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night

Well

Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).

Sick

Not in good physical or mental health;
Ill from the monotony of his suffering

Well

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

Sick

Feeling nausea; feeling about to vomit

Well

In good health.
I had been sick, but now I'm well.

Sick

Affected with madness or insanity;
A man who had gone mad

Well

(hypercorrect) Good, content.
“How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”

Sick

Having a strong distaste from surfeit;
Grew more and more disgusted
Fed up with their complaints
Sick of it all
Gossip that makes one sick
Tired of the noise and smoke

Well

(uncommon) Prudent; good; well-advised.

Well

Good to eat; tasty, delicious.

Well

(Hiberno-English) Used as a greeting
Well lads. How's things?

Well

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

Well

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

Well

A small depression suitable for holding liquid or other objects.
Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.

Well

(figurative) A source of supply.

Well

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

Well

(nautical) The cockpit of a sailboat.

Well

(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.

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

A well drink.
They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

(intransitive) To have something seep out of the surface.
Her eyes welled with tears.

Well

An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain.
Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well.

Well

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.

Well

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

Well

Fig.: A source of supply; fountain; wellspring.
Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled.
A well of serious thought and pure.

Well

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.

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

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.

Well

To pour forth, as from a well.

Well

In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly.
If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

Well

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.

Well

Fully or about; - used with numbers.
Well nine and twenty in a company.

Well

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.

Well

Considerably; not a little; far.
Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age.

Well

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.

Well

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?

Well

Being in favor; favored; fortunate.
He followed the fortunes of that family, and was well with Henry the Fourth.

Well

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

Well

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

Well

A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid

Well

An abundant source;
She was a well of information

Well

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

Well

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

Well

Come up;
Tears well in her eyes

Well

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

Well

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

Well

Wise or advantageous and hence advisable;
It would be well to start early

Well

(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

Well

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

Well

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

Well

(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

Well

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

Well

Favorably; with approval;
Their neighbors spoke well of them
He thought well of the book

Well

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

Well

With great or especially intimate knowledge;
We knew them well

Well

With prudence or propriety;
You would do well to say nothing more
Could not well refuse

Well

With skill or in a pleasing manner;
She dances well
He writes well

Well

In a manner affording benefit or advantage;
She married well
The children were settled advantageously in Seattle

Well

In financial comfort;
They live well
She has been able to live comfortably since her husband died

Well

Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor;
Took the joke well
Took the tragic news well

Common Curiosities

Can Well indicate a depth of something, like skill?

Yes, like in the phrase "well versed," indicating someone is very knowledgeable.

What's the opposite of being Sick?

The opposite of being Sick is being Well or in good health.

Is Well also a noun?

Yes, Well can refer to a source of water from the ground.

Can being Sick mean feeling nauseous?

Yes, if someone says "I feel sick" after a ride, they likely mean nauseated.

How is Sick used in slang?

In slang, Sick can mean something is impressive or cool.

Does Well always pertain to health?

No, Well has varied uses, including expressing satisfaction, agreement, or surprise.

How do I use Well to express surprise?

Start a statement with "Well," such as "Well, I didn't see that coming!"

Can Sick refer to both physical and mental conditions?

Yes, Sick can denote both physical illnesses and feelings of emotional distress.

How does Well confirm understanding?

It can be used as an acknowledgment, like saying "Well, if that's the case..."

Can both Sick and Well be used figuratively?

Yes, both can be used beyond their literal meanings in varied contexts, including literature and daily expressions.

Is Sick always negative?

Mostly, but in slang, it can be a compliment, meaning something is cool.

Can Sick mean tired or fed up?

Yes, like in the phrase "sick of," which means being fed up with something.

Can Sick indicate strong aversions?

Yes, like when someone says "I feel sick" after seeing something distressing.

How do I use Well to indicate a satisfactory manner?

You can say things like "The event was executed well."

How is Well used in comparisons?

Well can be used to indicate a higher degree, e.g., "He's well more experienced than her."

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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