- used to express surprise, anger or relief
- Well, well—I would never have guessed it!
- Well, really! What a thing to say!
- Well, thank goodness that's over!
- used to show that you accept that something cannot be changed
- Well, it can't be helped.
- ‘We lost.’ ‘Oh, well. Better luck next time.’
- used to agree to something, rather unwillingly
- Well, I suppose I could fit you in at 3.45.
- Oh, very well, then, if you insist.
- used when continuing a conversation after a break
- Well, as I was saying…
- used to say that something is uncertain
- ‘Do you want to come?’ ‘Well, I'm not sure.’
- used to show that you are waiting for somebody to say something
- Well? Are you going to tell us or not?
- used to mark the end of a conversation
- Well, I'd better be going now.
- used when you are stopping to consider your next words
- I think it happened, well, towards the end of last summer.
- used when you want to correct or change something that you have just said
- There were thousands of people there—well, hundreds, anyway.
Word Originexclamation Old English wel(l), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wel and German wohl; probably also to the modal verb will.
Idioms
See well in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarywell I never (did)!
- (old-fashioned) used to express surprise
well said!
- (informal) I agree completely
- ‘We must stand up for ourselves.’ ‘Well said, John.’
Check pronunciation:
well