1. (

• well

) a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine ;

2. (

• well ,

) a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid ;

3. (

• well ,
• wellspring ,
• fountainhead

) an abundant source; "she was a well of information" ;

4. (

• well ,

) an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway) ;

5. (

• well ,

) 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 ;

1. (

• well ,
• swell ,

) come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up" ;

1. (

• well ,

) 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" ;

2. (

• good ,
• well

) 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" ;

3. (

• well

) wise or advantageous and hence advisable; "it would be well to start early" ;

1. (

• well ,
• good

) (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" ;

2. (

• well ,

) 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" ;

3. (

• well ,
• easily ,

) 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" ;

4. (

• well ,

) (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" ;

5. (

• well ,

) 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" ;

6. (

• well ,

) favorably; with approval; "their neighbors spoke well of them"; "he thought well of the book" ;

7. (

• well ,
• considerably ,
• substantially ,

) 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" ;

8. (

• well ,
• intimately ,

) with great or especially intimate knowledge; "we knew them well" ;

9. (

• well ,

) with prudence or propriety; "You would do well to say nothing more"; "could not well refuse" ;

10. (

• well ,

) with skill or in a pleasing manner; "she dances well"; "he writes well" ;

11. (

• well ,
• advantageously

) in a manner affording benefit or advantage; "she married well"; "The children were settled advantageously in Seattle" ;

12. (

• well ,
• comfortably ,

) in financial comfort; "They live well"; "she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died" ;

13. (

• well ,

) without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor; "took the joke well"; "took the tragic news well" ;