Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

we ll-mea ning also well meaning ADJ If you say that a person or their actions are well-meaning , you mean that they intend to be helpful or kind but they are unsuccessful or cause problems. □  He is a well-meaning but ineffectual leader. □  Even well-meaning attempts at conservation can bring problems.

we ll-mea nt also well meant ADJ A well-meant decision, action, or comment is intended to be helpful or kind but is unsuccessful or causes problems. □  Any decision taken by them now, however well-meant, could complicate the peace process. □  …a well-meant experiment gone wrong.

well|ness /we lnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Your wellness is how healthy you are, and how well and happy you feel.

we ll-ni gh also well nigh ADV [ADV adj] Well-nigh means almost, but not completely or exactly. □  Finding a rug that's just the colour, size and price you want can be well-nigh impossible.

we ll-o ff also well off ADJ Someone who is well-off is rich enough to be able to do and buy most of the things that they want. [INFORMAL ] □  My grandparents were quite well-off. ● N‑PLURAL The well-off are people who are well-off. □  …higher tax rates on the well-off.

we ll-oi led ADJ [ADJ n] Journalists sometimes refer to a system or organization that is operating very efficiently as a well-oiled machine. □  …a well-oiled publicity machine.

we ll-pai d also well paid ADJ If you say that a person or their job is well-paid , you mean that they receive a lot of money for the work that they do. □  Kate was well paid and enjoyed her job. □  I have an interesting, well-paid job, with opportunities to travel.

we ll-prese rved also well preserved

1 ADJ If you describe a middle-aged or old person as well-preserved , you mean that they look good for their age. □  Annie is a well-preserved 50-year-old.

2 ADJ A well-preserved object or building does not show any signs of its age. □  …well-preserved fossils.

well-read /we l re d/ also well read ADJ A well-read person has read a lot of books and has learned a lot from them. □  He was clever, well-read and interested in the arts.

we ll-rou nded → see rounded

we ll-spo ken also well spoken ADJ A well-spoken person speaks in a polite correct way and with an accent which is considered socially acceptable. □  I remember her as a quiet, hard-working and well-spoken girl.

we ll-thu mbed ADJ A book or magazine that is well-thumbed is creased and marked because it has been read so often.

we ll-ti med also well timed ADJ A well-timed action or comment is done or made at the most appropriate or suitable time. □  He built the company through a string of well-timed acquisitions. □  One well-timed word from you will be all it needs.

we ll-to-do ADJ A well-to-do person is rich enough to be able to do and buy most of the things that they want. □  …a rather well-to-do family of diamond cutters. □  …two well-educated girls from well-to-do homes. ● N‑PLURAL The well-to-do are people who are well-to-do. □  …a firm that installed stereo equipment in homes of the well-to-do.

we ll-tra velled in AM, use well-traveled ADJ A well-travelled person has travelled a lot in foreign countries.

we ll-trie d also well tried ADJ A well-tried treatment, product, or method is one that has been used many times before and so is known to work well or to be successful. □  There are a number of well-tried remedies which are perfectly safe to take.

we ll-tro dden