4 PHRASE You say it is as well to think or do something when you are advising someone to think in a particular way or to take a particular action. □ It is as well to bear in mind that laughter is a great releaser of tension.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone would do well to do something, you mean that you advise or recommend that they do it. □ He would do well to remember that, sooner or later, everyone's luck runs out. □ Investors would do well to take a look at the Swiss economy.
6 PHRASE If you say that something, usually something bad, might as well be true or may as well be true, you mean that the situation is the same or almost the same as if it were true. □ The couple might as well have been strangers. □ We might just as well be in prison for all the quality our lives have at present.
7 PHRASE If you say that you might as well do something, or that you may as well do it, you mean that you will do it although you do not have a strong desire to do it and may even feel slightly unwilling to do it. □ If I've got to go somewhere I may as well go to Birmingham. □ Anyway, you're here; you might as well stay. □ I'll come with you if you like. I might as well.
8 PHRASE If you say that something is all well and good , you are suggesting that it has faults or disadvantages, although it may appear to be correct or reasonable. □ [+ for ] It's all well and good for him to say he's sorry, but has he told you why he did it?
9 PHRASE You say well and good or all well and good to indicate that you would be pleased if something happens but you are aware that it has some disadvantages. □ If they arrive before I leave, well and good. If not, the responsibility will be mine. □ This is all well and good, but we have to look at the situation in the long term.
10 PHRASE If you say that something is well and truly finished, gone, or done, you are emphasizing that it is completely finished or gone, or thoroughly done. [mainly BRIT , EMPHASIS ] □ The war is well and truly over.
11 all very well → see all
12 to know full well → see full
13 to mean well → see mean ➊
14 pretty well → see pretty
➍ well ◆◆◆ /we l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are well , you are healthy and not ill. □ I'm not very well today, I can't come in. □ I hope you're well.
➎ well /we l/ (wells )
1 N‑COUNT A well is a hole in the ground from which a supply of water is extracted. □ I had to fetch water from the well.
2 N‑COUNT A well is an oil well. □ About 650 wells are on fire.
➏ well /we l/ (wells , welling , welled )
1 VERB If liquids, for example tears, well , they come to the surface and form a pool. □ [V ] Tears welled in her eyes. □ [V + from ] He fell back, blood welling from a gash in his thigh. ● PHRASAL VERB Well up means the same as well . □ [V P ] Tears welled up in Anni's eyes.
2 VERB If an emotion wells in you, it suddenly becomes stronger, to the point where you have to express it. □ [V + in/inside ] Gratitude welled in Chryssa. □ [V ] Her love for him welled stronger than ever. ● PHRASAL VERB Well up means the same as well . □ [V P + in/inside ] He could feel the anger welling up inside him. □ [V P ] Hope welled up.
we'll /w I l, STRONG wiːl/ We'll is the usual spoken form of 'we shall' or 'we will'. □ Whatever you want to chat about, we'll do it tonight. □ Will there be anything else?—If there is, we'll let you know.
we ll-adju sted also well adjusted ADJ A well-adjusted person has a mature personality and can control their emotions and deal with problems without becoming anxious. □ …a happy, loving and well adjusted family.
we ll ad|vi sed also well-advised ADJ If someone says that you would be well advised to do a particular thing, they are advising you to do it. □ Moderates believe the party would be well advised to talk to the government.
we ll-appoi nted ADJ A well-appointed room or building has furniture or equipment of a high standard. [FORMAL ]
we ll-ba lanced also well balanced
1 ADJ If you describe someone as well-balanced , you mean that they are sensible and do not have many emotional problems. □ …a fun-loving, well-balanced individual.
2 ADJ If you describe something that is made up of several parts as well-balanced , you mean that the way that the different parts are put together is good, because there is not too much or too little of any one part. □ …a well-balanced diet.
we ll-beha ved also well behaved ADJ If you describe someone, especially a child, as well-behaved , you mean that they behave in a way that adults generally like and think is correct. □ …well-behaved little boys.
we ll-being also wellbeing N‑UNCOUNT Someone's well-being is their health and happiness. □ Singing can create a sense of wellbeing. □ [+ of ] His work emphasised the emotional as well as the physical well-being of children.
we ll-bo rn ADJ Someone who is well-born belongs to an upper-class family.
we ll-bre d also well bred ADJ A well-bred person is very polite and has good manners. □ She was too well-bred to want to hurt the little boy's feelings.
we ll-brought-u p also well brought up ADJ If you say that someone, especially a child, is well-brought-up , you mean that they are very polite because they have been taught good manners.