annoyed) 3 [+adv/prep] much; quite: Profits were well above our original forecast. | He finished the exam well within the time allowed. | It's a popular hotel, so you'll need to make your reservations well in advance. 4 justly, wisely, or properly: I couldn't very well say no when there was no one else she could ask. | You did well to tell me. (=it was a sensible thing to do) | 'Why wasn't she at the meeting?' 'You may well ask!' (=we were all wondering) 5 as well a) in addition; also; too: I'm going to London and my sister's coming as well. b) with as good a result: The weather was so bad we might (just) as well have stayed at home. 6 as well as in addition to (being): He was kind as well as sensible. 7 (it's) just as well (as a reply) it is fortunate (that); there's no harm done: 'We were too late to see the film.' 'Just as well; I hear it isn't very good.' 8 very well rather fml (used as a form of agreement, but often with some degree of unwillingness): 'You ought to take a coat with you.' 'Oh very well, if I must.' 9 (all) well and good especially BrE not really good enough: Dish-washers are all well and good, but washing-up by hand gets things cleaner. 10 well and truly infml completely: George was well and truly drunk. 11 Well done! (said when someone has been successful): You've passed your driving test - well done! → see also WELL-DONE 12 well away a) getting ahead: We're well away on the rebuilding of the house. b) infml especially BrE starting to be drunk 13 well in with having a good relationship (especially with someone important or influential): She's very well in with the sales director. 14 well out of BrE infml lucky to be free from: She's well out of that marriage; they were never suited. 15 well up in/on especially BrE infml well informed about: She's well up in the latest fashions. → see also pretty well (PRETTY)
well² interj 1 an expression of surprise: She's got a new job. Well, well! 2 (used for introducing an expression of surprise, doubt, acceptance etc): Well, really, what a stupid thing to do. | Well, I'm not sure. | Well, all right, I agree. 3 (used when continuing a story): Well, then she said ... 4 oh well! (used for showing cheerfulness when something bad has happened): Oh well, I can't complain; it was my own fault.
well $ ^{3} $ adj better, best 1 in good health: She's been ill a lot recently but she's looking very well now/she's looking much better now. | I don't feel at all well today. 2 [F] especially fit or old-fashion in an acceptable state; satisfactory; right: All's well that ends well. (proverb) 3 it's all very well (an expression of dissatisfaction when comparing what is practical to what is suggested): It's all very well for you to criticize, but could you have done any better yourself?
well $ ^{4} $ n 1 a place where water can be taken from underground: The old well in the village had a wall round it and a bucket that could be lowered for water. | to sink a well (=dig a hole to obtain water) in order to irrigate the desert | well water → see also WISHING WELL 2 an OIL WELL 3 an enclosed space in a building running straight up and down, for example for a LIFT to travel in → see also STAIRWELL 4 BrE the space in front of the judge in a law court
wells v [l+adv/prep] (of liquid) to flow or start to flow: Blood welled (out) from the cut. She was so angry that tears welled (up) in her eyes.
well-advised adj sensible; wise: a well-advised plan | [F+to-v]
You would be well-advised to see the doctor about that pain.
well-ad'justed adj (of a person) fitting in well with society and being emotionally healthy
well-ap'pointed adj fml having all the necessary furniture,
services, equipment etc: a well-appointed hotel
well-'balanced adj 1 (of a person) sensible and not controlled by unreasonable feelings; STABLE 2 (of a meal or way of eating) containing the right amounts of what is good for the body: a well-balanced diet
well-be'haved adj (usually of children) behaving in a socially acceptable and polite way: The children were very well-behaved on the train.
well-being /,wel'bi:ɪŋl"wel,bi:ɪŋ/ n [U] personal and physical comfort, especially good health and happiness: The warm sunny weather always gives me a sense of wellbeing.
well-born adj fmi born of an UPPER-CLASS family
well-bred adj old-fashion (typical of someone) coming from a family of high social class, especially in having good manners
well-brought-up adj (usually of children) very polite and having good manners: That little boy has been very well-brought-up.
,well-chosen adj chosen with care: He replied to the vote of thanks with a few well-chosen words. (=a short but suitable speech)
,well-con'nected adj knowing people of power and social importance, especially being related to them
,well-defined adj clear in form or nature; easily recognizable: The trees are well-defined in the picture. | well-defined limits
,well-developed adj fully developed or formed and able to function very well: well-developed back muscles | well-developed reading skills
,well-dis'posed adj [(towards)] tending to be friendly, sympathetic, or favourable (towards a person or idea): a well-disposed nature  $ \downarrow $ The management is not well-disposed towards technical innovation.
,well-done adj. (of food, especially meat) cooked for quite a long time, so that it is cooked all the way through → compare RARE; see also Well done! (WELL)
,well-'dressed adj wearing attractive, stylish, and usually expensive clothes
,well-earned adj much deserved: a well-earned rest after so much hard work
,well-educated adj someone who is well-educated has had a lot of education and has a lot of knowledge about many different things
,well-e'quipped adj fitted for doing something or able to provide what is necessary for doing something: Boeing feel that they are well-equipped to handle the project. → opposite ILL-EQUIPPED
Wel-ler, Paul /'welər/ (1958-) a British singer and songwriter who was the singer with the PUNK group The Jam from 1976 to 1982, and then with The Style Council from 1983 to 1989. His songs include Going Underground (1980) and Wild Wood (1993).
Welles, Or•son /welz, 'c:sən'l'ɔ:r-/ (1915–85) a US actor, film DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, and writer, known especially for the film Citizen Kane (1941), thought by many people to be one of the greatest films ever made, and for his radio play The War of the Worlds, which in 1938 made thousands of people in the US believe that the Earth was really being attacked by creatures from Mars. Other films include The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) and The Third Man (1949). → see photo on page A32
,well-es'tablished adj established for a number of years and so well known and respected: a well-established firm of solicitors
,well-fed adj 1 eating good, healthy food 2 fat; PLUMP
,well-found adj tech (especially of a ship) having all the necessary equipment; WELL-APPOINTED
,well-founded adj based on facts or good judgment: Our suspicions were well-founded; she turned out to be a thief.
,well-groomed adj having a very neat clean appearance, as if special care has been taken: a well-groomed horse/woman/lawn
,well-grounded adj 1 [Fin] fully instructed or trained: The soldiers were well-grounded in the skills needed to survive in the desert. 2 well-founded
,well-'heeled adj inml rich
,well-'hung adj taboo apprec slang 1 (of a man) having a large sex organ 2 rare (of a woman) having large breasts
wel-lie /'weli/ n BrE infmi a WELLINGTON → see also GREEN WELLIE BRIGADE
,well-in'formed adj 1 knowing a lot about several subjects 2 having good information about a particular subject; having good general knowledge: According to a well-informed source, one of the President's leading advisers is going to resign.
well-ling-ton /'welɪntən/ also wellington 'boot, welly, wellie intmi especially BrE | rubber boot AmE — n, a rubber boot which keeps water from the feet and lower part of the legs
Wellington the capital city of New Zealand, on the NORTH