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This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adverb
in a good or satisfactory manner: Business is going well.
thoroughly, carefully, or soundly: to shake well before using; listen well.
in a moral or proper manner: to behave well.
commendably, meritoriously, or excellently: a difficult task well done.
with propriety, justice, or reason: I could not well refuse.
adequately or sufficiently: Think well before you act.
to a considerable extent or degree (often used in combination): a sum well over the amount agreed upon;a well-developed theme.
with great or intimate knowledge: to know a person well.
certainly; without doubt: I anger easily, as you well know.
with good nature; without rancor: He took the joke well.
adjective, comparative bet·ter,superlative best.
in good health; sound in body and mind: Are you well? He is not a well man.
satisfactory, pleasing, or good: All is well with us.
proper, fitting, or gratifying: It is well that you didn’t go.
in a satisfactory position; well-off: I am very well as I am.
interjection
(used to express surprise, reproof, etc.): Well! There’s no need to shout.
(used to introduce a sentence, resume a conversation, etc.): Well, who would have thought he could do it?
noun
well-being; good fortune; success: to wish well to someone.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Idioms about well
- in addition; also; too: She insisted on directing the play and on producing it as well.
- equally: The town grew as well because of its location as because of its superb climate.
as well,
as well as, as much or as truly as; equally as: Joan is witty as well as intelligent.
leave well enough alone, avoid changing something that is satisfactory.
Origin of well
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English adverb wel, wel(l)e, wil, Old English adjective and adverb wel(l); cognate with Dutch wel, Old High German wela, wola, German wohl, Old Norse vel, Gothic waila; akin to Old English wyllan “to wish,” Latin velle “to wish”; see also will1
grammar notes for well
Sometimes an adverb like well is so often placed in front of and combined with a certain past participle in order to modify it that the resulting adjectival combination achieves the status of a common word and is listed in dictionaries. In Dictionary.com you will find, for example, entries for well-advised and well-mannered; for ill-advised, ill-bred, and ill-conceived; and for half-baked and half-cocked. Some of these terms are given full definitions, while others are considered such obvious combinations that you can figure out for yourself what they must mean. It is important to note, however, that compound adjectives like these are hyphenated for use before the noun they modify together. Thus we say that someone is “a well-loved professor,” but there would be no hyphen between well and loved in a sentence like “My English professor is well loved and deserves the award.”
In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ).
There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded.
Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!
usage note for well
Words nearby well
welfare statism, welfare work, welfarism, welkin, Welkom, well, well-accepted, well-accustomed, well-acquainted, well-acted, well-adapted
Other definitions for well (2 of 3)
noun
a hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur.
a spring or natural source of water.
an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.: He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.
a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid: the well of ink in a fountain pen.
any sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building.
Nautical.
- a part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other.
- a compartment or enclosure around a ship’s pumps to make them easily accessible and protect them from being damaged by the cargo.
a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.
any shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine.
verb (used without object)
to rise, spring, or gush, as water, from the earth or some other source (often followed by up, out, or forth): Tears welled up in my eyes.
verb (used with object)
to send welling up or forth: a fountain welling its pure water.
adjective
like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well.
Origin of well
2
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun wel(le), Old English wylle, wella, welle; cognate with German Welle “wave”; Middle English wellen, wel(le), Old English wellan, willan, wyllan; cognate with Dutch wellen, Old Norse vella; both noun and verb ultimately akin to weallan “to boil, bubble up”
Other definitions for well (3 of 3)
we’ll
[ weel; unstressed wil ]
/ wil; unstressed wɪl /
usage note for we’ll
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to well
strong, together, good, accurately, adequately, carefully, closely, completely, correctly, effectively, efficiently, fully, nicely, properly, smoothly, strongly, successfully, thoroughly, appropriately, easily
How to use well in a sentence
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The best comparison here for an American audience is, well, Internet stuff.
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Then add in all bored people, as well as people whose job it is to report on celebrities.
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The well, ghost or no ghost, is certainly a piece of history with a bold presence.
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In front of this strange structure are two blank-faced, well-dressed models showing off the latest in European minimalism.
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It is the obligation of citizens and journalists as well as governments.
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Mrs. Wurzel was quite right; they had been supplied, regardless of cost, from Messrs. Rochet and Stole’s well-known establishment.
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The big room at King’s Warren Parsonage was already fairly well filled.
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The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages.
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Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, «Well, drop out again—quick!»
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Old Mrs. Wurzel and the buxom but not too well-favoured heiress of the house of Grains were at the head of the table.
British Dictionary definitions for well (1 of 3)
adverb better or best
(often used in combination) in a satisfactory mannerthe party went very well
(often used in combination) in a good, skilful, or pleasing mannershe plays the violin well
in a correct or careful mannerlisten well to my words
in a comfortable or prosperous mannerto live well
(usually used with auxiliaries) suitably; fittinglyyou can’t very well say that
intimatelyI knew him well
in a kind or favourable mannershe speaks well of you
to a great or considerable extent; fullyto be well informed
by a considerable marginlet me know well in advance
(preceded by could, might, or may) indeedyou may well have to do it yourself
informal (intensifier)well safe
all very well used ironically to express discontent, dissent, etc
as well
- in addition; too
- (preceded by may or might) with equal effectyou might as well come
- just as well preferable or advisableit would be just as well if you paid me now
as well as in addition to
just leave well alone or just leave well enough alone to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory
well and good used to indicate calm acceptance, as of a decisionif you accept my offer, well and good
well up in well acquainted with (a particular subject); knowledgeable about
adjective (usually postpositive)
(when prenominal, usually used with a negative) in good healthI’m very well, thank you; he’s not a well man
satisfactory, agreeable, or pleasing
prudent; advisableit would be well to make no comment
prosperous or comfortable
fortunate or happyit is well that you agreed to go
interjection
- an expression of surprise, indignation, or reproof
- an expression of anticipation in waiting for an answer or remark
sentence connector
an expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etcwell, I don’t think I will come
Word Origin for well
Old English wel; related to Old High German wala, wola (German wohl), Old Norse val, Gothic waila
British Dictionary definitions for well (2 of 3)
noun
a hole or shaft that is excavated, drilled, bored, or cut into the earth so as to tap a supply of water, oil, gas, etc
a natural pool where ground water comes to the surface
- a cavity, space, or vessel used to contain a liquid
- (in combination)an inkwell
an open shaft through the floors of a building, such as one used for a staircase
a deep enclosed space in a building or between buildings that is open to the sky to permit light and air to enter
- a bulkheaded compartment built around a ship’s pumps for protection and ease of access
- another word for cockpit
a perforated tank in the hold of a fishing boat for keeping caught fish alive
(in England) the open space in the centre of a law court
a source, esp one that provides a continuous supplyhe is a well of knowledge
verb
to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwardstears welled from her eyes
Word Origin for well
Old English wella; related to Old High German wella (German Welle wave), Old Norse vella boiling heat
British Dictionary definitions for well (3 of 3)
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for well
A deep hole or shaft sunk into the Earth to tap a liquid or gaseous substance such as water, oil, gas, or brine. If the substance is not under sufficient pressure to flow freely from the well, it must be pumped or raised mechanically to the surface. Water or pressurized gas is sometimes pumped into a nonproducing oil well to push petroleum resources out of underground reservoirs. See also artesian well.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with well
In addition to the idioms beginning with well
- well and good
- well off
- well out of, be
- well preserved
also see:
- alive and kicking (well)
- all’s well that ends well
- all very well
- as well
- as well as
- augur well for
- damn well
- do well
- full well
- get well
- hanged for a sheep, might as well be
- leave well enough alone
- only too (well)
- sit well with
- think a lot (well) of
- to a fare-thee-well
- very well
- wear well
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how. Sometimes well also functions as an adjective pertaining to health.
Examples:
You did a good job.
Good describes job, which is a noun, so good is an adjective.
You did the job well.
Well is an adverb describing how the job was performed.
I feel well.
Well is an adjective describing I.
Good vs. Well Rules
Rule: With the four senses—look, smell, taste, feel—discern if these words are being used actively to decide whether to follow them with good or well. (Hear is always used actively.)
Examples:
You smell good today.
Good describes you, not how you sniff with your nose.You smell well for someone with a cold.
You are sniffing actively with your nose here so use the adverb.She looks good for a 75-year-old grandmother.
She is not looking actively with eyes so use the adjective.
Rule: When referring to health, always use well.
Examples:
I do not feel well today.
You do not look well.
Rule: When describing someone’s emotional state, use good.
Example: He doesn’t feel good about having cheated.
So, how should you answer the question, “How are you?” If you think someone is asking about your physical well-being, answer, “I feel well,” or “I don’t feel well.” If someone is asking about your emotional state, answer, “I feel good,” or “I don’t feel good.”
Please see our post How Are You—Good, Well, or Fine?, which provides more discussion and helpful examples.
Pop Quiz
1. She jogged very good/well for her age.
2. She had a good/well time yesterday.
3. With a high fever, it is unlikely he will feel good/well enough to play basketball tomorrow.
4. Those glasses look good/well on you.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. She jogged very well for her age.
2. She had a good time yesterday.
3. With a high fever, it is unlikely he will feel well enough to play basketball tomorrow.
4. Those glasses look good on you.
Are you ready for the quiz?
Good vs. Well Quiz
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Well is a discourse marker, adverb or adjective.
Well as a discourse marker
Spoken English:
In speaking, we often use well at the start of what we say. Its main function is to show that we are thinking about the question that we have been asked:
B:
Well, it’s difficult to say. I think they liked our presentation but I am not sure.
A:
How long would it take to drive from Dundee to here?
B:
Well, let me see. I’d say it would take at least three hours, if not more.
Spoken English:
We can use well to show a slight change in topic, or when what we are about to say is not quite what is expected:
A:
Have you found a house yet?
B:
Well, we’ve stopped looking actually. Nadia’s company has offered her another contract and we’ve decided to stay in Edinburgh for another year.
A:
Did you like that book?
B:
Well, it was interesting, but war stories are not really my favourite.
We can use well when we want to change what we have said slightly, or say something in another way:
I’m not going on a hiking holiday. I hate walking. Well, I hate being out in the cold weather.
Fiona is feeling better. Well, she’s much better than she was. She’ll be back to work on Monday.
We can use well when we admit or acknowledge that something is correct or true:
A:
It’ll take four hours to get to Glasgow.
B:
It’ll take more than that. We’ll have to stop for a break somewhere.
Warning:
We can use well with a rising intonation as a type of question when we want someone to tell us something. In this case, it means tell me or tell us. Be careful when you use this, as it can sound very direct:
A:
There’s something I have to tell you.
Well? What did you say to her?
Well as an adverb
We use well as an adverb when something is done to a good standard or in a good way:
He drives very well.
I work very well late at night.
We often use well before -ed forms, often with a hyphen:
This table isn’t very well-made.
I like my steak well-cooked. (I like my steak cooked for a long time.)
A:
I’ve passed my driving test!
Well and good
Well and good have a similar meaning, but good is not used as an adverb. It is used as an adjective.
Compare
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well used as an adverb modifying sings |
|
good used as an adjective modifying singer |
Well as an adjective
We use well as an adjective, normally after a linking verb such as be, look or get, to mean ‘in good health’:
B:
I’m very well, thanks. And you?
Are you feeling OK? You don’t look very well.
In American English, it is common to use good instead of well in this context. This is less common in British English:
B:
She’s good. Thanks for asking.
Transportation facilities are well-improved.
Is this a correct sentence?
I don’t know if the word well-improved can be used in this sentence.
RubioRic
6,8253 gold badges25 silver badges45 bronze badges
asked Jul 3, 2018 at 11:43
1
If something can be improved, it can be improved to a degree, and it stands to reason that it can be «well improved» as well.
That said, it sounds a bit awkward to use that formulation in English, except perhaps in specific circumstances where the verb improve had already been established and probably repeated. In most cases you can get by simply with improved. To advance beyond that degree you might have to say the thing had been «greatly improved» (or similar) to sound natural.
answered Jul 3, 2018 at 12:20
RobustoRobusto
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Since English has been spoken for hundreds of years, some constructions and word combinations that were invented several centuries ago seem odd today. The noun well-being seems like it could be formed as a compound, like wellbeing, or left as separate words, as well being, but despite its length history, only one spelling has ever been standard.
The word pairing well-being has been in use since the 16th century, and, ever since the beginning, there has only been one standard spelling.
Continue reading to find out.
In this post, I will compare wellbeing vs. well-being. I will outline which of these spellings is correct and guide you on its correct use.
Plus, I will show you a helpful memory tool that will help you choose well-being or wellbeing in your own future writing.
When to Use Well-being
What does well-being mean? Well-being is a noun. It describes good health and good fortune, or more generally, wellness.
A considerate person acts to promote the well-being of others, and doctors practice medicine to prolong and enhance the well-being of patients.
The sentences below are examples of well-being in context,
- “We have to consider the well-being of the child when making a foster home placement,” said the director.
- Well-being is a function of a healthy lifestyle, a positive view of one’s place in the world, and the support of valued peers.
Well-being is an old word. Merriam-Webster notes its first recorded use in 1561, nearly five centuries ago. At this point in history, well-being is the established and predominant spelling (see below) and a well-established part of the English language.
When to Use Wellbeing
What does wellbeing mean? Wellbeing is a misspelling of well-being. Despite its long history, well-being has never morphed into a single word and remains hyphenated to this day.
Some writers do not hyphenate well-being, separating the two words into well being. This, too, is nonstandard and most style guides advise against it. The AP Stylebook and Garner’s Modern English Usage, for instance, both state that well-being is hyphenated.
This, however, doesn’t mean these words will never appear adjacent to one another in sentences.
For example,
- Alex Rodriguez did well being a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners, but when be played third base for the New York Yankees, he came to be perceived as a villain.
As you can see, well and being appear next to each other in the sentence above. In this sentence, however, the words do not carry the same meaning as the hyphenated well-being.
Additionally, the graph below, which charts well-being vs. wellbeing vs. well being over time, illustrates the points made above: well-being is much more common than wellbeing and well being in modern English.
This graph is not scientific (it only looks at books published in English since 1800), but it clearly illustrates a dominant long-term trend.
Trick to Remember the Difference
The hyphenated well-being is the standard form of this noun. The single-word wellbeing and the two-word well being are not accepted variants.
Remember that well is an adjective and being is a verb. To form a noun, they must be hyphenated; well-being is not a compound word.
Remember that when words that are different parts of speech are combined, they are hyphenated. The hyphen in well-being is your clue that it is the correct version of this word.
Summary
Is it wellbeing or well-being? Well-being is a noun that means good health or good fortune.
- Well-being is a synonym of the words wellness and welfare.
- Wellbeing and well being are nonstandard variants of this noun, and should be avoided.
To summarize succinctly,
- Use well-being
- Avoid wellbeing or well being.
Contents
- 1 Which is Correct? Wellbeing or Well-Being?
- 2 When to Use Well-being
- 3 When to Use Wellbeing
- 4 Trick to Remember the Difference
- 5 Summary