From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwellwell1 /wel/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb (comparative better /ˈbetə $ -ər/, superlative best /best/) 1 satisfactorilySUCCESSFUL in a successful or satisfactory way Did you sleep well? James reads quite well for his age. All the team played very well today. Simon doesn’t work well under pressure. The festival was very well organized. The concert went very well.2 thoroughlyDO WELL in a thorough way Mix the flour and butter well. I know Birmingham quite well.3 a lot a) a lot, or to a great degreewell before/after/above/below etc Stand well back from the bonfire. It was well after 12 o'clock when they arrived. The village is well below sea level. The amphitheatre is well worth a visit. I’m well aware of the problems involved. I went out and got well and truly (=completely) drunk. b) [+adj] British English informal very That was well funny!4 → do well5 → as well6 → as well as something/somebody7 → may/might/could well8 → may/might/could (just) as well9 → can’t very well (do something)10 → know full/perfectly well11 → speak/think well of somebody12 → well done!/well played!13 → well said!14 → be well away15 → be well in with somebody16 → be well out of something17 → be well up in/on something18 → as well somebody might/may19 → do well by somebodyCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: prep/adjwell beforeShe’s been up since well before dawn.well afterIt was well after ten o'clock when we arrived.well aboveThe school’s performance was well above average.well belowThey earn well below $5 an hour.well short ofThis total falls well short of the sum required.well backStand well back from the edge of the platform.well worthThe book is well worth reading.well awareI am well aware of the risks involved.well able/capableShe is well able to look after herself.well underwayThe work on the extension is well underway.
Examples from the Corpus
well• Before you open it, shake the bottle well.• We had come to believe that Concorde was not just impossibly graceful but infallible as well.• Don't worry about the test - I'm sure you'll do well.• We didn't win, but at least we played well.• Educated men hid their jealousy awfully well.• Government giveaways to special-interest groups often hurt the environment as well.• Dad doesn't hear very well anymore.• This fear of fear will both provoke further symptoms as well as preventing the existing ones from diminishing naturally.• Especially on liberal initiatives, they face defections by moderates, as well as Republican delaying tactics.• This might well be the word processor that puts WordStar right back on the map in the word processor stakes.• The final test of truth, as Marxists well know, is human action.• Jean's playing much better since you gave her some lessons.• Both books are very well written and enjoyable to read.went ... well• It may have been her first class for Ciudad, but with her amiable personality and her expertise, all went well.• The first morning everything went well.• Ford went one better and put 60 two-stroke Fiestas on the roads.• In some circles, particularly among the various technicians in their functional silos, it went well beyond acceptance.• He was given an ultimatum by Murphy to prove his fitness by Friday but went well in training on Monday.• I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but it went much better than I expected and my audience were very appreciative.• Chutra went to the well to fetch water.• If all went well, today would be the triumphant conclusion to more than a year of patient, careful work.well before/after/above/below etc• Combine buttermilk and soda and add to creamed mixture alternately with flour, beating well after each addition.• We stayed there a long time, until well after midnight.• Near the sea the glaciers scraped out their valleys well below sea level.• It is vital to prepare a way round this question well before the interview itself.• More than 1m foreign tourists visited Yunnan last year, and tourism earnings rose well above the national rate in other sectors.• I felt loads better after the talk even though I had to face the fact that I had been wrong.• The Lionisers' cup was thus already full well before they set forth to Gads' Hill Place.• But wrap up well before you go through that garden because it's enough to freeze you out there. wellwell2 ●●● S1 W1 interjection 1 emphasizing somethingEMPHASIZE used to emphasize something you are saying Well, I think it’s a good idea anyway. Well, I’ve had enough and I’m going home! ‘James doesn’t want to come to the cinema with us.’ ‘Well then, let’s go on our own.’2 pausingPAUSE used to pause or give yourself time to think before saying something Well, let’s see now, I could meet you on Thursday.3 accepting a situation (also oh well)AGREE used to show that you accept a situation even though you feel disappointed or annoyed about it Well, I did my best – I can’t do any more than that. Oh well, we’ll just have to cancel the holiday, I suppose.4 showing surprise (also well, well, (well))SURPRISED used to express surprise or amusement Well, so Steve got the job? Well, well, well, I didn’t think I’d see you here.5 showing angerANGRY used to express anger or disapproval Well, she could at least have phoned to say she wasn’t coming! 6 FINISH DOING somethingfinal remark used to show that you are about to finish speaking or doing something Well, that’s all for today. Well, that’s the last one done.7 expressing doubtNOT SURE used to show that you are not sure about something ‘Will you be in on Friday evening?’ ‘Well, it depends.’8 changing something used to slightly change something that you have said He’s rolling in money! Well, he’s got a lot more than me, anyway.9 → very well10 continuing a storyCONNECTED WITH used to continue a story you are telling people, especially in order to make it seem more interesting You know that couple I was telling you about the other day? Well, last night I saw a police car in front of their house!11 → Well?Examples from the Corpus
well• Oh well, at least we have a place to stay tonight.• You know the guy I was telling you about? Well, he dropped out of school.• This needs to be copied, and, well, I don't have time to do it.• Well, I don't think she's the best person for the job.• Well, I suppose this room will be big enough for the meeting.• Well, I think you should wait for a better offer.• Well, let's see now, I could book you in for an appointment next Thursday.• Well, that's all for today, I'll see you all tomorrow.• Well, you'd think at least she might have phoned to say she wasn't coming!• Well, you look really good in a suit and tie.Well then• Well then call and tell him so.• Perhaps you're feeling a little tense. Well then go and hug a tree.• But that was never enough. Well then, he'd say, what don't you like about them?• Rape is widespread. Well then, let us declare it unpatriotic to talk about it.• Well all right. Well then, why not every day?Well?Well?ASK A QUESTIONused to ask someone to answer a question you have asked them, when you are angry with them Well? What have you got to say for yourself? → wellExamples from the Corpus
Well?• You were out past 3 a.m.! Well?wellwell3 ●●● S1 W2 adjective (comparative better, superlative best) 1 HEALTHYhealthy ‘How are you?’ ‘Very well, thanks.’ I don’t feel very well. You’re looking very well. I hope you get well again soon.► see thesaurus at healthy2 → it’s just as well (that)3 → it’s/that’s all very well, but ...4 → that’s/it’s all well and good5 → it might/would be as well6 → all is well/all is not well7 → all’s well that ends wellExamples from the Corpus
well• You need to eat regular nourishing meals if you want to keep yourself fit and well.• I should be better by this weekend.• You're looking well - have you been on holiday?• Ellen hasn't been very well lately.• Clare's been much better since the operation.• ""How are you?'' ""I'm very well, thank you.''feel ... well• It may mean heated arguments, harsh words and hurt feelings, but once the air is cleared everyone will feel better.• I felt better about myself, my shame evaporated, and I was energized.• The fourth day and the evening following he felt well and was able to pass his time in his usual occupations.• On Friday, Jimmy complained of not feeling well and went to bed early.• Perhaps she was not feeling well, or it could be that she resented Lissa's intrusion into the office.• I ain't feeling all that well to tell the truth.• Coaches often are left to feel abandoned as well, unable to field enough players, even in the smaller leagues.wellwell4 ●●○ noun [countable] 1 DFTBa deep hole in the ground from which people take water She lowered her bucket into the well.2 TPGan oil well3 TBBthe space in a tall building where the stairs areExamples from the Corpus
well• Make a well in the centre of the mixture and add the melted margarine and the beaten egg.• The centrepiece of the courtyard was a deep well.• These should fit into the well of the recessed window and have a flange which overlaps the edge of the well.• Residents fearful of their wells becoming contaminated would like to see the one of the wells moved farther south.wellwell5 (also well up) verb [intransitive] literary 1 if a liquid wells or wells up, it comes to the surface of something and starts to flow out I felt tears well up in my eyes.2 STRONG FEELING OR BELIEFif a feeling wells or wells up in you, you start to feel it strongly Anger welled up within him.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
well• She groaned, as hot tears welled up and wetted both their faces.• Dark blood was welling up from both of them.• It wells up her perfectly tanned throat and finally she starts to shake, honey blonde hair cascading over slim shoulders.• Sympathy welled up in her for him.• But deep inside there was a brooding that was welling up in him.• Diana vented all the grievances which had been welling up inside her for more than ten years.• His right armpit ached; a kind of fever of anger welled up like a midnight tide coming in.• It welled up, reclaiming its rightful position in the hit parade of the senses: No.tears well up• He paused and suddenly tears welled up.• I could feel my own tears welling up.• She groaned, as hot tears welled up and wetted both their faces.• He couldn't speak, and, to his horror, he felt tears welling up in his throat.• I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and suddenly they spilled over the sides and dripped down my cheeks.• Some people find uncontrollable tears welling up, yet they may feel wonderfully relaxed and calm after the massage.From Longman Business Dictionarywellwell /wel/ noun [countable] another name for an OIL WELLOrigin well1 Old English wel well4 Old English welle well5 (1300-1400) well “to cause to boil” ((11-15 centuries)), from Old English wellan 