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to well

to well

24 4.2
To rise up and flow out, as a liquid or feeling
  • verb
  • /wɛl/
translation icon : llenarse (de)
  • As the news sank in, a feeling of panic began to well up inside him.
  • tears well up
  • eyes well up

You will find like a deep anxiety welling up in your chest.

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Examples

  • When she was sad, tears began to well up in her eyes.

  • I'm welling up with tears.

  • Brian tries to follow, but the fire wells up, cutting him off.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • His eyes were welling with tears: "Please give this to that lady!"

    Academic text (2010)
  • You will find like a deep anxiety welling up in your chest.

  • Jacob stares at himself for a long time as a huge cry wells up inside him.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • There is also something more: a rage welling up and passionate caring.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Sometimes I sense deep anger welling up and have to choke it back.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Laughter beyond my control began welling up in my throat and burst forth in a half-strangulated chuckle.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Emotions started to well up as he recalled his childhood memories.

Synonyms

to swell
vsto well
29 4.2

To feel a strong emotion, like pride or anger, growing inside

rises to the surface and then flows out rather than staying contained
to gush
vsto well
26 3.2

To flow out suddenly and forcefully, like blood from a wound

rises slowly and pours out steadily rather than in bursts
to well up
vsto well
23 5.2

To have strong feelings rise and make you want to cry

rises gradually to the surface and flows out in a steady stream
to well over
vsto well
22 4.4

To rise and flow out like tears or strong feelings

rises under the surface and comes out gently in a steady way
to stream
vsto well
18 3.4

To trail out in a long, flowing way behind something

begins under the surface and moves upward before spreading outward
to pour out
vsto well
18 2.9

Move out of a building in large numbers

starts by rising then leaves gradually rather than suddenly
to flow out
vsto well
16 2.9

Move or pour out in a steady stream, often a liquid

rises to the surface then flows out more slowly
to well out
vsto well
6.1

To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood

rises gently first and usually in smaller steadier amounts

Antonyms

258 1.0

To go down below the surface of water and become underwater

29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

Idioms

1.0

To add another thing or idea

919 1.0

In a fairly good way

203 1.0

Say this to show agreement or acceptance

Carefully planned to work well

well and truly
  • Informal
7 3.7

Completely and without doubt

5 3.2

To work well with other people in a team

fare thee well
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A way to say goodbye and wish someone well

3 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

1 6.7

Fine to say but not enough to help in real life

Words people say when a difficult situation ends well

9.1

Makes what someone says sound stronger to show anger or determination

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

Phrasal Verbs

520 1.2

Be successful or have good results in something

136 2.6

Act in a wise way that helps you

54 2.7

To hope that someone will have good luck or success

To do something because there is no better choice

32 1.3

Become healthy again after being ill or hurt

23 5.2

To have strong feelings rise and make you want to cry

22 4.4

To rise and flow out like tears or strong feelings

To become successful and earn enough money

Be useful to someone when they need it

Treat someone with respect and kindness

A voice or sound that can be heard clearly at a distance

To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood

Compounds

1.0

In addition to something else

253 1.0

Familiar to many people and often talked about

178 2.4

A state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy

84 1.8

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

40 3.9

Has learned a lot and knows many things

33 3.4

Having enough money to live comfortably

29 2.4

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

25 2.8

Polite and calm around other people

22 4.2

People who have plenty of money and live comfortably

oil well
  • Specialized
19 2.8

A deep hole in the ground that brings up oil

12 1.6

Cooked all the way through with no pink inside

11 3.5

A person who wishes someone success and happiness

11 7.2

Having a lot of money

10 2.9

Polite and respectful to other people

9 3.5

Neat and tidy in appearance with clean clothes and neat hair

A group or system in which all parts work together smoothly

gas well
  • Specialized
8 3.7

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

7 1.8

Neat and in good condition because someone looks after it

6 2.8

Water that comes from underground through a deep hole

ne'er-do-well
  • Offensive
5 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

4 4.1

Carefully picked to suit a situation or purpose

well-formed
  • Specialized
3 4.4

Correct according to grammar and normal language use

3 4.6

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

2 4.3

Organized neatly so things are easy to find

Liked and respected by many people

artesian well
  • Specialized
1 4.9

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

1 3.5

Happening at the right moment to be useful

Soil that lets extra water drain away easily

drainage well
  • Specialized
1 5.5

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

1 1.2

A child or pet that acts politely and calmly

stripper well
  • Specialized
1 9.6

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

Oiled so machines and moving parts work smoothly

1 7.7

Having pleasing, polished language in words or sentences

1 3.7

Happening at the best moment to be most useful

1 3.4

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

bilge well
  • Specialized
9.9

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

driven well
  • Specialized
8.4

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

air well
  • Specialized
7.4

A vertical space in a building that lets fresh air move

fare-thee-well
  • Archaic
9.9

A very high level of quality that is almost perfect

9.9

Being friendly and cheerful when meeting people, sometimes too familiar

pump well
  • Specialized
9.9

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

tube well
  • Indian
4.8

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

well point
  • Specialized
7.7

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

Has a nice face that people like

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

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

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

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

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

wildcat well
  • Specialized
8.2

A well drilled to find oil in a new area

How Strong

to gush
26 3.2
to pour
588 1.0
to well
24 4.2
to seep
82 2.7
to ooze
64 3.9

Surface Forms

well infinitive
welled past
welled past participle
welling present participle
wells third person singular

Etymology

Well as a verb comes from the noun well (a spring): it means 'to rise up' just like water rising in a well, so feelings or tears 'well up' when they come to the surface.