# well

/ˈwɛɫ/ (US) · /wˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/well
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. skillfully or successfully

adverb · CEFR A1

to do something in a good way or with skill.

For teachers: in a manner that is satisfactory, skillful, or successful.

- She speaks English very well because she practices every day.
- 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.

### 2. completely or thoroughly

adverb · CEFR B1

completely or to a great degree.

For teachers: to a significant extent or degree; thoroughly.

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

### 3. very

adverb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

used to emphasize an adjective, meaning 'very'.

For teachers: used as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely'.

- That movie was well good, you should definitely see it.
- He was well annoyed when he found out his flight had been cancelled without any prior notice.

Teaching tip: This is very common in modern British youth slang; learners should avoid it in formal writing.

### 4. healthy

adjective · CEFR A1

feeling healthy and not sick.

For teachers: in good health; free from illness or injury.

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

### 5. starting a sentence

interjection · CEFR A1

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

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

- Well, I think we should go home now.
- Well, if there are no further objections, I suggest we move on to the next item on the agenda.

### 6. water source

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The village gets all its fresh water from a deep well in the center of town.
- The company began drilling a new exploratory well in the North Sea to determine the size of the oil reserve.

### 7. to flow out

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to flow or come out of something steadily.

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

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

## Examples

- She speaks English very well.
- The team worked well together and finished the project ahead of the deadline.
- The results of the clinical trial were well received by the medical community, sparking hope for a more effective treatment protocol.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.