ENGLISH
REFERENCE

well

adv. · adj. · interj. · n. · v.
US //ˈwɛɫ// UK //wˈɛl// well
  1. 1 skillfully or successfully (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    to do something in a good way or with skill.

    in a manner that is satisfactory, skillful, or successful.

    Example

    She speaks English very well because she practices every day.

    Example

    The project was well managed from the start, ensuring that all milestones were met ahead of the final deadline.

    Usage

    placed after the verb or the object of the verb.
    Pitfall
    He plays the piano good.
    He plays the piano well.

    Use 'good' to describe a person or thing (adjective), but use 'well' to describe how someone does an action (adverb).

  2. 2 completely or thoroughly (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    completely or to a great degree.

    to a significant extent or degree; thoroughly.

    Example

    Make sure the meat is well cooked before you eat it.

    Example

    The consequences of the new policy were well understood by the board before the final vote took place.

    Usage

    often used before a past participle or prepositional phrase.
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  1. 3 very (adv.)
    C1 Advanced British English Slang Informal

    used to emphasize an adjective, meaning 'very'.

    used as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely'.

    Example

    That movie was well good, you should definitely see it.

    Example

    He was well annoyed when he found out his flight had been cancelled without any prior notice.

    Teacher's tip

    This is very common in modern British youth slang; learners should avoid it in formal writing.
  2. 4 healthy (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    feeling healthy and not sick.

    in good health; free from illness or injury.

    Example

    I didn't feel well yesterday, so I stayed in bed.

    Example

    Despite her advanced age, she remained remarkably well and continued to walk three miles every morning.

    Usage

    usually used after a linking verb like 'be', 'feel', or 'look'.
  3. 5 starting a sentence (interj.)
    A1 Beginner

    a word used to start a sentence, often when you are thinking or changing the subject.

    used as a discourse marker to introduce a remark, express hesitation, or signal a transition.

    Example

    Well, I think we should go home now.

    Example

    Well, if there are no further objections, I suggest we move on to the next item on the agenda.
  4. 6 water source (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a deep hole in the ground where people get water or oil.

    a shaft or hole sunk into the earth for the purpose of obtaining water, oil, or gas.

    Example

    The village gets all its fresh water from a deep well in the center of town.

    Example

    The company began drilling a new exploratory well in the North Sea to determine the size of the oil reserve.
  5. 7 to flow out (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to flow or come out of something steadily.

    to rise or gush up from an internal source; often used figuratively for emotions.

    Example

    Tears started to well up in her eyes as she said goodbye.

    Example

    A sense of profound relief welled up within him as the ship finally cleared the harbor and reached open waters.

    Usage

    often used with the particle 'up'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English wel, wal, wol, wele, from Old English wel ("well, abundantly, very, very easily, very much, fully, quite, nearly"), from Proto-Germanic \wela, \wala ("well", literally "as wished, as desired"), from Proto-Indo-European \welh₁-* ("wish, desire").

Cognates include Yola vella, waal, wel, well, wull; Cimbrian boll, bóol; Dutch wel; German wohl, wol, woll; Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vel; Faroese væl; Swedish väl, wäl; and Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila). Related to will.

Etymology 2

From Old English wielle, descending through Middle English welle to modern English. The Old English form derives from Proto-West Germanic \wallijā and Proto-Germanic \wallijǭ, meaning well, swirl, wave — a root that carried senses of both the still source and the moving surface. Proto-Indo-European \welH-* underlies it, meaning to turn, wind, roll.

The Germanic cognates preserve different aspects: West Frisian wel, Dutch wel, and German Low German Well keep the well; German Welle has drifted to mean wave; Danish væld holds both well and spring; Swedish väl narrows to a well; Icelandic vella has moved on entirely, now describing boiling, bubbling, eruption. Each language chose which feature of turning water to retain.

Etymology 3

From Middle English wellen, by merger of two Old English verbs: intransitive weallan and transitive wiellan, both meaning "to boil." Each traces separately to Proto-Germanic, wallaną and wallijaną respectively. The result is a doublet of wall.

Cognates survive across Germanic: German wallen ("boil, seethe"), Danish vælde ("gush"), Norwegian Nynorsk vella. Albanian valë ("hot, boiling") preserves an outside connection.

Word family
Idioms17 entries

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