Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - good

(better, best) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. Good means pleasant or enjoyable. We had a really good time together... I know they would have a better life here... There’s nothing better than a good cup of hot coffee... It’s so good to hear your voice after all this time. ? bad ADJ 2. Good means of a high quality, standard, or level. Exercise is just as important to health as good food... His parents wanted Raymond to have the best possible education... ...good quality furniture. ? poor ADJ 3. If you are good at something, you are skilful and successful at doing it. He was very good at his work... I’m not very good at singing... He is one of the best players in the world... I always played football with my older brother because I was good for my age. ? bad, poor ADJ: oft ADJ at n/-ing 4. If you describe a piece of news, an action, or an effect as good, you mean that it is likely to result in benefit or success. On balance biotechnology should be good news for developing countries... I had the good fortune to be selected... This is not a good example to set other children... I think the response was good. ? bad ADJ: usu ADJ n 5. A good idea, reason, method, or decision is a sensible or valid one. They thought it was a good idea to make some offenders do community service... There is good reason to doubt this... Could you give me some advice on the best way to do this? ? bad, poor ADJ: usu ADJ n 6. If you say that it is good that something should happen or good to do something, you mean it is desirable, acceptable, or right. I think it’s good that some people are going... It is always best to choose organically grown foods if possible. ? bad ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that/to-inf 7. A good estimate or indication of something is an accurate one. We have a fairly good idea of what’s going on... This is a much better indication of what a school is really like... Laboratory tests are not always a good guide to what happens in the world. ? poor ADJ: usu ADJ n 8. If you get a good deal or a good price when you buy or sell something, you receive a lot in exchange for what you give. Whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations... The merchandise is reasonably priced and offers exceptionally good value. ADJ: usu ADJ n 9. If something is good for a person or organization, it benefits them. Rain water was once considered to be good for the complexion... Nancy chose the product because it is better for the environment. = beneficial ? bad ADJ: v-link ADJ for n 10. If something is done for the good of a person or organization, it is done in order to benefit them. Furlaud urged him to resign for the good of the country... I’m only telling you this for your own good! = benefit N-SING: with poss 11. If someone or something is no good or is not any good, they are not satisfactory or are of a low standard. If the weather’s no good then I won’t take any pictures... I was never any good at maths. N-UNCOUNT: with brd-neg 12. If you say that doing something is no good or does not do any good, you mean that doing it is not of any use or will not bring any success. It’s no good worrying about it now... We gave them water and kept them warm, but it didn’t do any good... There is no way to measure these effects; the chances are it did some good. N-UNCOUNT: usu with brd-neg 13. Good is what is considered to be right according to moral standards or religious beliefs. Good and evil may co-exist within one family. ? evil N-UNCOUNT 14. Someone who is good is morally correct in their attitudes and behaviour. The president is a good man... For me to think I’m any better than a homeless person on the street is ridiculous. ? bad ADJ 15. Someone, especially a child, who is good obeys rules and instructions and behaves in a socially correct way. The children were very good... I’m going to be a good boy now... Both boys had good manners, politely shaking hands. ? bad ADJ 16. Someone who is good is kind and thoughtful. You are good to me... Her good intentions were thwarted almost immediately... ADJ 17. Someone who is in a good mood is cheerful and pleasant to be with. People were in a pretty good mood... He exudes natural charm and good humour... A relaxation session may put you in a better frame of mind. ? bad ADJ: usu ADJ n 18. If people are good friends, they get on well together and are very close. She and Gavin are good friends... She’s my best friend, and I really love her. ADJ: ADJ n 19. A person’s good eye, arm, or leg is the one that is healthy and strong, if the other one is injured or weak. ? bad ADJ: ADJ n 20. You use good to emphasize the great extent or degree of something. We waited a good fifteen minutes... This whole thing’s got a good bit more dangerous. ADJ: a ADJ n c darkgreen]emphasis 21. You say ‘Good’ or ‘Very good’ to express pleasure, satisfaction, or agreement with something that has been said or done, especially when you are in a position of authority. ‘Are you all right?’—‘I’m fine.’—‘Good. So am I.’... Oh good, Tom’s just come in... CONVENTION 22. see also best, better, goods 23. ‘As good as’ can be used to mean ‘almost.’ His career is as good as over... The vote as good as kills the chance of real reform. = practically PHRASE: v-link PHR adj/-ed/v 24. If you say that something will do someone good, you mean that it will benefit them or improve them. The outing will do me good... It’s probably done you good to get away for a few hours... You don’t do anybody any good by getting yourself arrested. PHRASE: V inflects, oft it PHR if/to-inf 25. If something changes or disappears for good, it never changes back or comes back as it was before. The days of big-time racing at Herne Hill had gone for good... A few shots of this drug cleared up the disease for good. PHRASE: PHR after v 26. People say ‘Good for you’ to express approval of your actions. ‘He has a girl now, who he lives with.’—‘Good for him.’ CONVENTION c darkgreen]feelings 27. If you say it’s a good thing, or in British English it’s a good job, that something is the case, you mean that it is fortunate. It’s a good thing you aren’t married... It’s a good job it happened here rather than on the open road. PHRASE: V inflects 28. If you make good some damage, a loss, or a debt, you try to repair the damage, replace what has been lost, or repay the debt. It may cost several billion roubles to make good the damage. = put right PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 29. If someone makes good a threat or promise or makes good on it, they do what they have threatened or promised to do. (mainly AM) Certain that he was going to make good his threat to kill her, she lunged for the gun... He was confident the allies would make good on their pledges. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n, PHR on n 30. If you say that something or someone is as good as new, you mean that they are in a very good condition or state, especially after they have been damaged or ill. I only ever use that on special occasions so it’s as good as new... In a day or so he will be as good as new. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 31. You use good old before the name of a person, place, or thing when you are referring to them in an affectionate way. Good old Harry. Reliable to the end... PHRASE: PHR n c darkgreen]feelings 32. good deal: see deal in good faith: see faith so far so good: see far good as gold: see gold good gracious: see gracious good grief: see grief good heavens: see heaven good job: see job good lord: see lord for good measure: see measure the good old days: see old in good shape: see shape to stand someone in good stead: see stead in good time: see time too good to be true: see true