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well

well

∞ 1.0
In a good or skillful way
  • adverb
  • /wɛl/
: bien
  • Some people do really well on breakfast, others don't.
  • work well
  • well-known
  • very well

But you know, if you do it well, then it works.

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Examples

  • And when it works well, it can feel really good.

  • Not how fast you read, but how well you think that counts.

  • OK, so that did not work well at all.

  • Dude, if you could sing that well, why say words?

  • So, yeah, let's just hope this goes well, OK?

  • The BBC has done so well, so well with this series.

  • I must say it's gone extremely well.

  • I think those things will serve you well and that's it.

  • I hope everything is going well and you're taking good care of yourself.

  • The project was completed well ahead of schedule, impressing everyone involved.

Synonyms

very well
vswell
∞ 1.0

In a fairly good way

can also mean proper skill or high quality, not only moderate success
good
vswell
  • Informal
927 7.9

Used informally to mean completely or very much

is the neutral, standard expression for general satisfactory or skillful action
properly
vswell
677 1.0

To do something in the right way

is more general, meaning good, skillful, or satisfactory overall
nicely
vswell
322 1.0

In a pleasant or attractive way

is wider, also including skilled or higher quality actions
thoroughly
vswell
246 3.5

To do something completely and carefully

can mean being generally good without implying full completeness
all right
vswell
145 1.0

In a good enough way

is broader and can include higher skill or fuller success
okay
vswell
142 1.0

In a way that is good enough

can mean very good or highly satisfactory, not just adequate
wonderfully
vswell
101 1.0

In a very good and impressive way

is neutral and may mean merely correct or satisfactory
adequately
vswell
80 3.0

In a way that is good enough for the task

can imply higher quality or stronger skill than mere sufficiency
brilliantly
vswell
59 4.1

In a very clever and skillful way that impresses people

is broader, covering ordinary good performance without brilliance
decently
vswell
15 2.7

In a proper and respectful way

focuses more broadly on competence or high degree rather than just propriety
superbly
vswell
12 3.3

In a very good way that shows great skill

covers general satisfactory action, not always exceptional performance
masterfully
vswell
9 5.3

In a way that shows great skill

is broader and can mean simply acceptable or skillful without mastery
ably
vswell
9 3.5

In a skillful and effective way

is wider, covering general goodness or adequacy, not only ability
well and truly
vswell
  • Informal
8 3.7

Completely and without doubt

is more general, covering good performance not only full completion
excellently
vswell
6 2.8

In a very good way that shows a lot of skill

is less strong, meaning good or satisfactory without extreme praise
famously
vswell
5 2.8

In a very good and successful way

can mean simply acceptable or properly done without fame
capably
vswell
3 3.8

In a skilled and effective way

is broader, meaning generally good or satisfactory rather than only skillful
outstandingly
vswell
1 4.9

In a way that is much better than usual and impresses people

is more general, indicating acceptable quality rather than exceptional quality
consummately
vswell
  • Formal
1 6.9

In a skillful and perfect way

can mean good or adequate rather than flawless or perfect
superlatively
vswell
1 7.0

To a very high degree, showing excellent quality

allows lower intensity, meaning simply good or satisfactory

Antonyms

243 1.4

In a bad or unsuccessful way

203 1.0

In a way that is not good or skillful

ill
20 4.1

In a bad way that causes problems

Idioms

∞ 1.0

To add another thing or idea

∞ 1.0

In a fairly good way

259 1.0

Say this to show agreement or acceptance

Carefully planned to work well

16 6.7

Fine to say but not enough to help in real life

well and truly
  • Informal
8 3.7

Completely and without doubt

fare thee well
  • Archaic
8 9.9

A way to say goodbye and wish someone well

Words people say when a difficult situation ends well

6 9.1

Makes what someone says sound stronger to show anger or determination

6 3.2

To work well with other people in a team

4 6.1

To say you hope someone is healthy and doing well

To visit a trusted person or place to get help and supplies often

Being friendly and ready to help or support people and ideas

To succeed by helping others and acting fairly

Having a lot of money, people, and equipment to do its work

Compounds

∞ 1.0

In addition to something else

442 3.5

Happening at the right moment to be useful

359 1.0

Familiar to many people and often talked about

289 1.8

Of a high standard or, for meat, cooked until no pink remains

176 2.4

A state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy

62 3.9

Has learned a lot and knows many things

50 2.4

Wearing neat, clean clothes that look smart, like a suit or nice shirt

38 3.4

Having enough money to live comfortably

36 1.2

A child or pet that acts politely and calmly

oil well
  • Specialized
29 2.8

A deep hole in the ground that brings up oil

24 4.2

People who have plenty of money and live comfortably

21 1.8

Neat and in good condition because someone looks after it

20 2.8

Polite and calm around other people

15 1.6

Cooked all the way through with no pink inside

14 3.4

Kind words and actions that show someone wants another person to be happy or successful

12 2.9

Polite and respectful to other people

11 3.5

A person who wishes someone success and happiness

11 3.5

Neat and tidy in appearance with clean clothes and neat hair

A group or system in which all parts work together smoothly

10 7.2

Having a lot of money

gas well
  • Specialized
10 3.7

A deep hole drilled in the ground to bring up natural gas

8 2.8

Water that comes from underground through a deep hole

ne'er-do-well
  • Offensive
8 9.9

A person who is lazy, irresponsible, and does not try to succeed

A card sent to someone who is ill to wish them a quick recovery

6 4.1

Carefully picked to suit a situation or purpose

6 4.3

Organized neatly so things are easy to find

5 4.6

A phrase or idea used so often that it is no longer interesting

well-formed
  • Specialized
5 4.4

Correct according to grammar and normal language use

5 3.7

Happening at the best moment to be most useful

Liked and respected by many people

Soil that lets extra water drain away easily

fare-thee-well
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very high level of quality that is almost perfect

artesian well
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A well drilled through rock into water that rises to the surface from natural pressure

1 7.7

Having a graceful, attractive shape often used for body parts or sculptures

drainage well
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A hole that lets extra rain or water on the ground flow into the earth

Having thick, soft padding and a neat cover that makes it comfortable

stripper well
  • Specialized
1 9.6

An oil well near the end of its life that produces less than ten barrels a day

1 9.9

Being friendly and cheerful when meeting people, sometimes too familiar

1 7.7

Having pleasing, polished language in words or sentences

Oiled so machines and moving parts work smoothly

1 5.3

Has a nice face that people like

tube well
  • Indian
1 4.8

A deep hole with a long metal pipe that brings water up from underground

1 3.0

A person with very little hair on the face or head after a recent shave

driven well
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A hole made by driving a pipe into the ground to reach water

air well
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A vertical space in a building that lets fresh air move

wildcat well
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A well drilled to find oil in a new area

bilge well
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A low space at the bottom of a ship where leaked water collects to be pumped out

well point
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A tube with small holes pushed into the ground to collect water from soil

A chair for one person with soft thick cushions and a fabric cover that makes it very comfortable

pump well
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A space in a ship's hold that protects the pumps

1 6.8

A topic people use often in stories and films

Shoes with thick padding that make your feet more comfortable

A plan that runs smoothly and on time because it is well organized

How Well

excellently
6 2.8
skillfully
20 3.2
well
∞ 1.0
adequately
80 3.0
poorly
243 1.4

Surface Forms

well positive
better comparative
best superlative

Etymology

Well meaning 'in a good, proper, or skillful way' comes from an old word for 'good' and is the same idea you see in welfare or wellness, so to do something well is to do it in a good or proper way.