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to well

to well

32 4.2
To rise up and flow out, as a liquid or feeling
  • verb
  • /wɛl/
: 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 flow out
vsto well
27 2.9

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

rises to the surface then flows out more slowly
to gush
vsto well
27 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 pour out
vsto well
20 2.9

Move out of a building in large numbers

starts by rising then leaves gradually rather than suddenly
to swell
vsto well
14 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 stream
vsto well
2 3.4

To trail out in a long, flowing way behind something

begins under the surface and moves upward before spreading outward
to well out
vsto well
1 6.1

To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood

rises gently first and usually in smaller steadier amounts
to well over
vsto well
1 4.4

To rise and flow out like tears or strong feelings

rises under the surface and comes out gently in a steady way

Antonyms

104 1.0

To go down below the surface of water and become underwater

67 4.8

To move back or become less strong

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

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.2

Be successful or have good results in something

641 4.1

To do something because there is no better choice

190 2.7

To hope that someone will have good luck or success

112 2.6

Act in a wise way that helps you

112 3.5

Be useful to someone when they need it

63 1.3

Become healthy again after being ill or hurt

23 5.2

To have strong feelings rise and make you want to cry

Treat someone with respect and kindness

1 6.1

To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood

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

1 4.4

To rise and flow out like tears or strong feelings

To become successful and earn enough money

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 Strong

to gush
27 3.2
to pour
788 1.0
to well
32 4.2
to seep
74 2.7
to ooze
42 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.