Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - well

~1 adv comparative better superlative best 1 »SATISFACTORILY« in a successful or satisfactory way  (Did you sleep well? | James reads well for his age. | fairly/moderately/pretty well (=quite well) | go well (=happen in the way you planned or hoped))  (I was really pleased that the concert had gone so well.) 2 well-organized/well-educated etc organized, educated etc to a high standard 3 do well a) to be successful, especially in work or business  (Elizabeth's done well for herself - a well-paid job, a nice house and a sports car.) b) if someone who has been ill is doing well, they are becoming healthy again  (The operation was successful and the patient is doing well.) 4 »THOROUGHLY« in a thorough way  (Mix the flour and butter well.) 5 as well as in addition to something else  (They own a house in Provence as well as a villa in Spain. | as well as doing sth)  (The organization encourages members to meet on a regular basis, as well as providing them with financial support.) 6 as well in addition to something or someone else  (We're going to the cinema tonight, why don't you come along as well?) 7 may/might/could well do/be sth used to say that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true  (What you say may well be true. | You could try the drugstore, but it may well be closed by now.) 8 may/might/could (just) as well do sth a) informal used when you do not particularly want to do something but you decide to do it  (I suppose we may as well get started.) b) used to mean that another course of action would have an equally good result  (The taxi was so slow, we might just as well have gone on the bus.) 9 »EMPHASIZING STH« a) well before/behind/down etc a long way or a long time before, behind etc  (It was well after 12 o'clock when they arrived. | Stand well back from the bonfire.) b) well pleased/well aware etc very pleased etc  (I'm well aware of the problems involved. | Pardoe was well pleased with his day's work. | well worth (doing) sth)  (The amphitheatre is well worth a visit.) c) + adj) BrE spoken used to emphasize an adj that describes how someone feels or what sort of situation they are in  (Our boss came out of the meeting looking well fed-up.) d) well and truly completely  (I went out and got well and truly drunk.) 10 know full well to know or realize something very well  (You know full well what I mean.) 11 speak/think well of to talk about someone in an approving way or to have a favourable opinion of them  (Sue has always spoken well of you.) 12 well done!/well played! used to praise someone when you think they have done something very well 13 be well in with informal to have a friendly relationship with someone, especially someone important  (Paul's well in with the boss these days..) 14 be well out of BrE spoken to be lucky to no longer be involved in a particular situation  (She's well out of that marriage, her husband was a brute!) 15 be well up in/on informal, especially BrE to know a lot about a particular subject  (Geoff's well up on the latest technological developments.) 16 as well sb might/may used to say that there is a good reason for someone's feelings or reactions  (Marilyn looked guilty when she saw me, as well she might.) 17 do well by informal to treat someone generously ~2 interjection 1 »EMPHASIZING STH« used before a statement or question to emphasize it  (Well, I think it's a good idea, I don't care what anyone else says. | Well, all I can say is it's a bloody waste of taxpayer's money! | well then)  ("James doesn't want to come to the cinema with us." "Well then, let's go on our own.") 2 »PAUSING« used to pause or give yourself time to think before saying something  (Mary's been a bit depressed and, well, I was worried she might do something stupid. | Well, let's see now, I could book you in for an appointment next Thursday. | well I mean)  (Well, I mean the whole idea just sounds crazy to me.) 3 »ACCEPTING A SITUATION« also oh well used to show that you accept a situation even though you feel disappointed or annoyed about it  (Well, I did my best, I can't do any more that that. | Oh well, we'll just have to cancel the holiday I suppose.) 4 »SHOWING SURPRISE« also well, well (,well) used to express surprise or amusement  (Well, so Steve's a senior manager now is he? | Well, well, well, I didn't think I'd see you here Sue.) 5 »SHOWING ANGER« used to express anger or disapproval  (Well, you'd think at least she might have phoned to say she wasn't coming! | well honestly/well really)  ("They were playing music next door until 4 a.m." "Well honestly, you'd think they'd show a bit more consideration.") 6 »FINAL REMARK« used to show that you are about to finish speaking or stop doing an activity  (Well, that's all for today, I'll see you all tomorrow.) 7 »EXPRESSING DOUBT« used to express doubt or the fact that you are not sure about something  ("I reckon Mike Whelan is worth a place in the England side." "Well, he's not a very consistent player is he?") 8 »AGREEING« very well used to show that you agree with or accept a suggestion, invitation etc  ("I think plain wallpaper would look better in this room." "Very well then, if you insist.") 9 »CONTINUING A STORY« used to connect two parts of a story that you are telling people especially in order to make it seem more interesting  (You know that couple I was telling you about the other day? Well, the police came round and arrested them both!) 10 »DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION« Well? used to demand an explanation or answer when you are angry with someone  (Mrs Hawkins says she saw you hanging around the town centre with some of your mates last night. Well?) ~3 adj comparative better superlative best 1 healthy  ("How are you?" "Very well thanks." | look/feel well)  (You're looking well, the vacation obviously did you good. | get well soon (=used to say that you hope someone soon feels better)) 2 it is just as well (that) spoken used to say that things have happened in a way that is fortunate or desirable  (It's just as well I couldn't go to the funeral, I think I'd have found it too upsetting.) 3 it's/that's all very well but... spoken used to say that you think something is not really satisfactory or acceptable, even if someone else thinks it is  ("They said Maria should go to bed and rest." "That's all very well but who's going to look after the children?") 4 it might be as well spoken used to give someone advice or make a helpful suggestion  (It might be as well to leave him on his own for a few hours.) 5 that's/it's all well and good spoken especially BrE used to say that you accept or approve of one part of a situation or thing but not of another part  (Going off on foreign holidays is all well and good but you've got to get back to reality sometime.) 6 all is well/all is not well formal used to say that a situation is satisfactory or not satisfactory  (All is not well with their marriage.) 7 all's well that ends well used after a situation has ended in a satisfactory way 8 literary happy and comfortable  (We're very well where we are thank you.) ~4 n 1 a deep hole in the ground from which people take water  (She lowered her bucket into the well. | sink a well (=dig a well)) 2 an oil well 3 an enclosed space in a building which goes straight up and down and surrounds a lift, stairs etc  (- see also stairwell) 4 BrE the space in front of a judge in a court of law ~5 v also well up especially literary 1 if liquids well or well up, they start to flow  (I felt tears well up in my eyes.) 2 if feelings well or well up, they start to get stronger  (Anger welled up within him.)