well

In a good, correct, or successful manner.

• She sings well.
• The children played well yesterday.
• Did I explain it well?

Similar words: successfully, properly

Opposites: badly, poorly

Common phrases: do well, play well, work well, perform well

In good health, especially after being ill.

• I hope you get well soon.
• She felt well enough to return to work.
• He got well after several days in bed.

How to use it: get well (I hope you get well soon.); feel well (I do not feel well today.)

Opposites: ill, sick

Common phrases: get well, feel well, well again

To a large extent, or by a large amount.

• The town is well known for its cheese.
• Their house is well above the river.
• We arrived well before the concert started.

Similar words: considerably, greatly

Common phrases: well known, well above average, well worth it

Healthy and free from illness.

• Are you well?
• She was not well enough to travel.
• Everyone in the family is well now.

How to use it: be/feel well (I am well again.)

Similar words: healthy

Opposites: ill, sick

Common phrases: feel well, well again, well enough

Good, acceptable, or happening as it should.

• All is well at home.
• Is everything well with your family?
• All was well until the lights went out.

How to use it: all/everything is well (Everything is well at home.)

Similar words: fine, good, satisfactory

Common phrases: all is well, well and good, all well

Used to begin speaking, continue after a pause, or introduce a new topic.

• Well, let us begin.
• Well, I think we should leave now.
• Well, anyway, how was your holiday?

Common phrases: well I think, well then, well anyway, well I suppose

Used to show amused or false surprise, especially when repeated.

• Well, well, you finally arrived!
• Well, well, what a surprise to find you here!
• Well, well, well, someone has been eating my cake.

Common phrases: well well, well well well, well look here

A deep hole in the ground from which people get water, oil, or gas.

• They dug a well behind the house.
• We pulled water from the well with a bucket.
• The company closed three oil wells last year.

Common phrases: water well, oil well, dig a well