TKG English Learner's Dictionary

well

wellinterjection

American /wɛl/ British /wel/
very commondefining vocabulary

Well is a spoken word that fills a pause and shows how the speaker feels about what comes next.

  1. thinking or answeringused at the start of what you say, to give yourself a moment to think or to show that an answer or an explanation is coming

    Well often softens what comes next, especially disagreement, bad news, or a no: Well, actually, I think you are wrong. It also marks a return to the point or a change of subject: Well, as I was saying.

    Collocations

    phrase well, actually, well, you see, well, the thing is, well then

  2. acceptingused to show that you accept a situation, often one you do not like, before moving on

    Collocations

    phrase oh well, well, never mind, well, that's that

  3. surpriseused to show surprise or interest, often repeated

    Collocations

    phrase well, well, well, well, well

  4. asking for an answerused to ask someone to answer or continue, or to show that you are becoming impatient

    On its own, with a rising tone, Well? asks for a reply that is slow in coming.

  5. finishingused to show that you are about to finish a conversation or a subject

    Collocations

    phrase well, anyway, well, that's all, well, I'd better go

  6. correcting yourselfused before you correct or make more exact something you have just said

Phrases

oh well

used to show that you accept a disappointment and are ready to move on

  • Oh well, we can always try again tomorrow.
  • It rained all day. Oh well.

very well formal

used to agree to something or accept it, often unwillingly

Word family

  • well
  • well

Usage

In writing, well at the start of a sentence is usually followed by a comma: Well, I suppose so. Written dialogue uses it to make speech sound natural; formal writing rarely uses it.

Common mistakes

Well, the first reason is that prices are rising. The first reason is that prices are rising.
Spoken well is usually out of place in an essay or a report; leave it out in formal writing.

For translators

Meaning across languages Other languages have their own spoken pause words with the same jobs; translate by function (thinking, accepting, surprise, impatience), not with the word for good or healthy.
Grammar trap Well as a spoken filler stands outside the sentence, usually first, and is usually followed by a comma in writing. Do not confuse it with the adverb well (she sings well) or the adjective well (I am well).
Pronunciation trap Often drawn out, weeell, when the speaker is thinking; short and sharp, well!, for surprise or impatience. The vowel is the short e of bed.