well

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /wɛl/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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Adverb

Positive well

Comparative better

Superlative best

1. In a good way.

   He washed the table very well, so now it is very clean.

2. Healthy, not sick.

   I had the flu, but then I got well.

Related words

• as well
• better
• best

Interjection

Interjection well

1. You use well to tell others that you're going to say something, that you're going to continue speaking, or that you're going to change the topic.

   Well, I guess I'm leaving now.

Noun

Singular well

Plural wells

A well in Malaysia.

1. (countable) A hole in the ground for getting water or oil.

   There was no river nearby, so they dug a well to get water.

Verb

Plain form well

Third-person singular wells

Past tense welled

Past participle welled

Present participle welling

1. (intransitive) If a liquid, feeling, or idea wells up, it rises gradually to the surface.

   The tears welled up in her eyes.

   Blood welled in the cut.

   She'd been trying so hard to contain the emotion welling up inside her.