Definition of well exclamation from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

well

exclamation

/wel/

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!
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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.
Topics Opinion and argumenta1
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.