Noun
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an enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane's landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship's pumps
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an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
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an abundant source
"she was a well of information"
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a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
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a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
Verb
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come up, as of a liquid
"Tears well in her eyes"
"the currents well up"
Adjective
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wise or advantageous and hence advisable
"it would be well to start early"
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resulting favorably
"it's a good thing that I wasn't there"
"it is good that you stayed"
"it is well that no one saw you"
"all's well that ends well"
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in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
"appears to be entirely well"
"the wound is nearly well"
"a well man"
"I think I'm well
at least I feel well"
Adverb
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without unusual distress or resentment
with good humor
"took the joke well"
"took the tragic news well"
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in financial comfort
"They live well"
"she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died"
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in a manner affording benefit or advantage
"she married well"
"The children were settled advantageously in Seattle"
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with skill or in a pleasing manner
"she dances well"
"he writes well"
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with prudence or propriety
"You would do well to say nothing more"
"could not well refuse"
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with great or especially intimate knowledge
"we knew them well"
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to a great extent or degree
"I'm afraid the film was well over budget"
"painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger"
"the house has fallen considerably in value"
"the price went up substantially"
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favorably
with approval
"their neighbors spoke well of them"
"he thought well of the book"
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to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
"the project was well underway"
"the fetus has well developed organs"
"his father was well pleased with his grades"
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(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
"a book well worth reading"
"was well aware of the difficulties ahead"
"suspected only too well what might be going on"
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indicating high probability
in all likelihood
"I might well do it"
"a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster"
"you may well need your umbrella"
"he could equally well be trying to deceive us"
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thoroughly or completely
fully
often used as a combining form
"The problem is well understood"
"she was well informed"
"shake well before using"
"in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked"
"well-done beef", "well-satisfied customers"
"well-educated"
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(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for `well')
"the children behaved well"
"a task well done"
"the party went well"
"he slept well"
"a well-argued thesis"
"a well-seasoned dish"
"a well-planned party"
"the baby can walk pretty good"