Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

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.

11all very well → see all

12to know full well → see full

13to mean well → see mean ➊

14pretty 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.