Meaning & use
well
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Meanings
adverb
In a good, skillful, or satisfactory way.
Grammar: Modifies a verb: She sings well.
Patterns
- do something well
- well done
- play well
She speaks English very well.
The team played well in the second half.
He did well on the exam.
adjectivenot comparable
In good health; not sick.
Grammar: Usually after a linking verb: I feel well.
Patterns
- feel well
- be well
- get well
I hope you get well soon.
She wasn't well last week, but she's better now.
nouncountable
A deep hole in the ground from which water, oil, or gas is taken.
Grammar: Countable: a well, two wells.
Patterns
- dig a well
- an oil well
- a water well
The village gets its water from a well.
They drilled an oil well in the desert.
Word forms
| comparative | better |
|---|---|
| superlative | best |
Common combinations
- very well
- She knows the city very well.
- well done
- Well done on passing your driving test!
- get well
- He is getting well after his operation.
- as well
- She brought her sister as well.
Synonyms and how they differ
- good
- Good is an adjective; well is usually an adverb. Say 'She sings well,' not 'She sings good.'
- fine
- Fine can mean healthy, but it is more casual; well is the standard word for good health.
Opposites
Word family
- wellness noun
- The state of being healthy.
- well-being noun
- A person's health and happiness.
Commonly confused: well or good?
well vs good
Good is an adjective and describes nouns; well is an adverb and describes actions. 'He is a good singer' vs. 'He sings well.'
Practice
She plays the piano very ___.
Choose one answer.
The verb 'plays' needs an adverb, so 'well' is correct. 'Good' is an adjective and would describe a noun, not an action; 'goodly' means large or considerable, and 'wellly' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “well”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.