Adverb Adjective Noun A2 — Elementary /wɛl/

Well — Definition, Examples & Usage

One of the most versatile words in English — meaning satisfactorily, healthily, or referring to a source of water.

Quick Definition

Well (adverb) — in a good, correct, or satisfactory manner: She speaks English very well.

Well (adjective, predicate only) — in good health; not ill: I hope you are keeping well.

Well (noun) — a deep hole drilled or dug into the ground to reach water, oil, or gas: The village draws its water from an ancient well.

What Does Well Mean?

Well is one of the most frequent words in the English language and one of the most grammatically versatile. Its most common role is as an adverb modifying a verb to show that an action is performed in a good or satisfactory way. When someone says she writes well, they mean that her writing is of a good standard — the word well answers the question "how does she write?"

As a predicate adjective, well follows a linking verb and describes the subject's state of health. This is the only context in which well functions as an adjective, so you cannot place it directly before a noun: a well person is not standard English (use a healthy person instead).

The noun well is older still, referring to a shaft sunk into the ground to access underground water or other resources. It also appears in compound nouns such as oil well, stairwell, and inkwell. Understanding all three uses will significantly increase your reading comprehension and help you avoid the extremely common confusion between well and good.

Etymology

The adverb and adjective well derive from Old English wel, related to the Proto-Germanic root *wela-, connected to willan (to wish or want). The core idea was "in the manner that one would wish" — hence doing something satisfactorily. The comparative better and superlative best are suppletive forms, coming from entirely different roots (Old English betera and betst), which is why they look so different.

The noun well comes from Old English wella or wiella, from a Germanic root meaning "to boil, bubble, or surge", referring to a spring or source of water bubbling up from the ground. This root also gives us the verb to well up, as in tears welled up in her eyes.

Example Sentences

Sentence Level Usage note
She speaks English very well for a beginner. A2 adverb modifying speaks
I don't feel very well — I think I'm coming down with a cold. B1 predicate adjective describing health
The project went well and finished on time. B1 adverb after intransitive verb went
She is well aware of the risks involved in the decision. B2 well as intensifier before adjective
The ancient well in the village square had been drawing water for over three centuries. C1 noun use; formal, descriptive register

Collocations

Collocation Example
do well She did well in her exams this year.
go well How did the interview go? — It went really well.
sleep well I hope you sleep well tonight.
speak well of Everyone speaks well of her — she is very popular.
know full well You know full well that is not what I meant.
well aware The board is well aware of the financial pressures.
well known She is a well-known author of children's books.
well done Well done for finishing the assignment early!
as well as She studied French as well as Italian at university.
well worth The exhibition is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Usage Notes

Well vs Good

The most important distinction to learn is between well (adverb) and good (adjective). Use well to describe how something is done; use good to describe a noun or to follow a linking verb when not talking about health. Compare: He is a good teacher (adjective modifying noun) versus He teaches well (adverb modifying verb).

Hyphenating compound adjectives

When well combines with a past participle to form a compound adjective before a noun, it must be hyphenated: a well-known fact, a well-prepared student. When the compound follows the noun, no hyphen is needed: the fact is well known, she was well prepared. This rule applies consistently in British English.

Well as a discourse marker

At the start of a sentence or turn in conversation, well is a discourse marker used to signal a pause for thought, a qualification, or a slight change of direction: Well, I suppose you could be right. This use is extremely common in spoken English and informal writing. It is not an error — it serves a real pragmatic function — but it should be used sparingly in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

He did good in the test.

He did well in the test. (well is the adverb; good is an adjective)

She is a very well student — always prepared.

She is a very good student — always prepared. (well cannot modify a noun directly)

The plan worked good.

The plan worked well. (well modifies the verb worked)

He is a well-known writer of crime novels — his books sell good.

He is a well-known writer of crime novels — his books sell well.

Related Words

better best good healthy thoroughly satisfactorily well-being wellness farewell welling up

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “well”

What does well mean in English?
Well has three main uses. As an adverb it means in a good or satisfactory manner: 'She performed well.' As a predicate adjective it means in good health: 'I don't feel well.' As a noun it refers to a deep hole dug to obtain water or oil. The adverb use is by far the most frequent in everyday English.
What is the difference between well and good?
Good is an adjective and modifies nouns: 'a good result'. Well is an adverb and modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs: 'She plays well.' A very common mistake is saying 'She plays good' — this is incorrect in standard British English. The only time well and good overlap is when describing health: 'I feel well' and 'I feel good' are both acceptable, though well is more formal.
Can well be used as an adjective?
Yes, but only as a predicate adjective — that is, it must follow a linking verb such as feel, look, or seem. You can say 'She looks well' or 'He is not well', but you cannot say 'a well person'. The adjective well almost always relates to health.
What are common collocations with well?
The most frequent collocations include: do well, go well, sleep well, speak well of, think well of, know full well, well aware, well known, well done, well prepared, as well as, and well worth. Many of these form compound adjectives when placed before a noun and require a hyphen: a well-known author, a well-prepared student.
What does 'as well as' mean?
'As well as' is a conjunction or preposition meaning in addition to: 'She speaks French as well as Spanish.' It is similar in meaning to and, but it places emphasis on the first item mentioned. Note that when 'as well as' introduces a clause, the verb in that clause usually takes the -ing form: 'As well as speaking French, she studied Latin.'
What is the comparative and superlative of well?
As an adverb, the comparative of well is better and the superlative is best: 'She writes well. She writes better than her classmate. She writes best when she has plenty of time.' As an adjective meaning healthy, the forms are also better and best. These are irregular forms and must be memorised.
What does 'well done' mean?
'Well done' has two meanings. As an exclamation it expresses praise or congratulation: 'Well done — you passed your exam!' As a description of cooked meat, it means cooked thoroughly until no pink remains, as opposed to rare or medium. In speech and writing it is usually hyphenated before a noun: 'a well-done steak'.
How do you use well in informal speech?
In informal British English, well is commonly used as an intensifier before adjectives, similar to very: 'That film was well good.' This usage is widespread in spoken English among younger speakers but is not appropriate in formal writing. Well is also used as a discourse marker at the start of a sentence to introduce a reply or a pause for thought: 'Well, I'm not entirely sure about that.'
What is the origin of the word well?
Both senses of well come from Old English. The adverb and adjective derive from Old English 'wel', related to the verb 'willan' (to wish), carrying the idea of something being as one would wish it. The noun well comes from Old English 'wella' or 'wiella', meaning a spring or stream of water, from a root meaning to flow or bubble up.
How can I practise using well in English?
LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise includes well/good contrast items that help you build the correct habit. Flash Cards are useful for memorising compound adjective collocations such as well-known and well-prepared. For more advanced practice, try the Vocabulary Quiz and look for examples in articles and novels to see well used naturally across its different functions.