well
WEHL
Well (adv) means In a good, skillful, or satisfactory way. Example: “She plays the piano well.”
adv
1
In a good, skillful, or satisfactory way.
"She plays the piano well."
"The interview went well, I think."
"The little boy behaved well all through the long car journey."
adj
1
In good health.
"He hasn't been well since he caught that cold."
"I feel well again after resting at home for a few days."
"She looked well when we met her at the market."
intj
1
Used at the start of a sentence to pause, soften a response, or show hesitation.
"Well, I suppose we could try it your way."
"Well, that didn't go as planned."
"Well, I'm not sure that is a good idea, to be honest."
noun
1
A deep hole dug or drilled into the ground to reach water, oil, or gas.
"The village still gets its drinking water from an old stone well."
"The farmer drilled a deep well behind the barn to water his animals."
"Children dropped a coin into the well and made a wish."
How to use well
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: skillfully/satisfactorily (adverb), healthy (adjective), a conversational filler word, or a hole dug for water/oil.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the adverb "well" (describes an action: "she sings well") with the adjective "good" (describes a noun: "she is a good singer").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
do well
well done
feel well
oil well
wishing well
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like well.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wells
- Third person singular
- wells
- Past tense
- welled
- Comparative
- better, weller
- Superlative
- best, wellest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She plays the piano _____.
Etymology
From Old English wel, meaning "abundantly, fully, in a desired way" — ultimately from a root meaning "to wish" or "desire," the same root behind the word "will."
Synonyms
View more →
skillfully
competently
ably
expertly
proficiently
satisfactorily
effectively
nicely
good
fountainhead
wellspring
so
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for well
See all rhymes for well →Frequently asked questions
What does “well” mean?
The word “well” means in a good, skillful, or satisfactory way. In plain terms, depending on context: skillfully/satisfactorily (adverb), healthy (adjective), a conversational filler word, or a hole dug for water/oil.
How do you pronounce “well”?
“Well” is pronounced WEHL (/ˈwɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “well” in a sentence?
Here is “well” used in a sentence: “She plays the piano well.”
What is another word for “well”?
Words with a similar meaning to “well” include so, see, look and as if.
What part of speech is “well”?
Depending on how it is used, “well” can be an adverb, an adjective, an intj and a noun.
Where does the word “well” come from?
The word “well” comes from Old English. From Old English wel, meaning "abundantly, fully, in a desired way" — ultimately from a root meaning "to wish" or "desire," the same root behind the word "will.".
Is “well” a common word?
“Well” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “well” have?
“Well” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a good, skillful, or satisfactory way.
What is the difference between well and good?
Good is an adjective that describes a noun, as in 'a good singer.' Well is an adverb that describes how an action is done, as in 'she sings well.' A common error is 'she sings good.' Note that well can also be an adjective meaning healthy, as in 'I feel well.'
Should I say 'I'm good' or 'I'm well'?
Both are accepted. 'I'm well' is the traditional choice, using well as an adjective meaning in good health. 'I'm good' is very common in casual speech and usually means content or fine. In formal writing, 'I'm well' is the safer option when talking about health.
What is an example of well used as an adverb?
'She played the piece remarkably well.' Here well describes how she played. Other examples include 'The team worked well together' and 'He speaks French well,' where well always tells you that the action was done in a skillful or satisfactory way.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include well:
