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1 good play
adjective \ ˈgu̇d \
Popularity: Top 1% of lookups
Usage guide: good vs. well
Examples: good in a Sentence
Definition of good
better play \ˈbe-tər\; best play \ˈbest\
1 a (1) :of a favorable character or tendency
good news
(2) :bountiful, fertile
good land
(3) :handsome, attractive
good looks
b (1) :suitable, fit
good to eat
(2) :free from injury or disease
one good arm
(3) :not depreciated
bad money drives out good
(4) :commercially sound
a good risk
(5) :that can be relied on
good for another year
good for a hundred dollars
always good for a laugh
(6) :profitable, advantageous
made a very good deal
c (1) :agreeable, pleasant
had a good time
(2) :salutary, wholesome
good for a cold
(3) :amusing, clever
a good joke
d (1) :of a noticeably large size or quantity :considerable
won by a good margin
a good bit of the time
(2) :full
waited a good hour
(3) —used as a word that gives force or emphasis to a statement
a good many of us
e (1) :well-founded, cogent
good reasons
(2) :true
holds good for society at large
(3) :deserving of respect :honorable
in good standing
(4) :legally valid or effectual
good title
f (1) :adequate, satisfactory
good care
—often used in faint praise
his serve is only good —Frank Deford
(2) :conforming to a standard
good English
(3) :liking only things that are of good quality :choice, discriminating
good taste
(4) :containing less fat and being less tender than higher grades —used of meat and especially of beef
2 a (1) :virtuous, right, commendable
a good person
good conduct
(2) :kind, benevolent
good intentions
b :upper-class
a good family
c :competent, skillful
a good doctor
d (1) :loyal
a good party man
a good Catholic
(2) :close
a good friend
e :free from infirmity or sorrow
I feel good
— goodish play \ˈgu̇-dish\ adjective
— as good as
:in effect :virtually
as good as dead
— as good as gold
1 :of the highest worth or reliability
his promise is as good as gold
2 :well-behaved
the child was as good as gold
— good and play \ˌgu̇d-ᵊn\
:very, entirely
was good and mad
See good defined for English-language learners
See good defined for kids
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good vs. well
An old notion that it is wrong to say "I feel good" in reference to health still occasionally appears in print. The origins of this notion are obscure, but they seem to combine someone's idea that good should be reserved to describe virtue and uncertainty about whether an adverb or an adjective should follow feel. Today nearly everyone agrees that both good and well can be predicate adjectives after feel. Both are used to express good health, but good may connote good spirits in addition to good health.
Examples of good in a Sentence
You'll need better tools for this job.
The car is in good condition.
There are some good restaurants in this neighborhood.
I'm afraid your work is just not good enough.
Keep up the good work.
“Would you hire her again?” “Yes, I would. She does good work.”
The food was good but not great.
He has done good but not outstanding work.
Did you have a good time at the party?
We're expecting good weather for the weekend.
Recent Examples of good from the Web
O’Brien has picked Savage, with five career starts, to go behind center despite Deshaun Watson making a good impression .
—
teresa m. walker, The Seattle Times, "NFL 2017: Titans, Mariota eager to push aside Texans, Colts," 30 Aug. 2017
Faulconer spokesman Craig Gustafson issued a statement saying the mayor is proud to raise money to supports good causes, including One San Diego.
—
jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Charitable giving at mayor's behest tops $2 million," 30 Aug. 2017
Nonetheless, the fact someone like Khosrowshahia is now atop one of the world's most prominent companies, can only be good news for bitcoin believers.
—
jeff john roberts, Fortune, "Uber’s New CEO Is a Bitcoin Fan," 30 Aug. 2017
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'good.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of good
Middle English, from Old English gōd; akin to Old High German guot good, Middle High German gatern to unite, Sanskrit gadhya what one clings to
good Synonyms
Synonyms
commonsense, commonsensible, commonsensical, firm, hard, informed, just, justified, levelheaded, logical, rational, reasonable, reasoned, sensible, sober, solid, valid, well-founded
Antonyms
groundless, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, nonsensical, nonvalid, unfounded, uninformed, unjustified, unreasonable, unreasoned, unsound
Related Words
actual, real, true; certain, sure; certified, validated, verified; confirmed, corroborated, substantiated; cogent, convincing; colorable, credible, plausible
Near Antonyms
unsubstantiated, unsupported, unwarranted; flimsy, implausible, unconvincing, weak; fallacious, false, misguided, misled
2 good
noun
Definition of good
1 a :something that is good
b (1) :something conforming to the moral order of the universe
(2) :praiseworthy character :goodness
c :a good element or portion
2 a :advancement of prosperity or well-being
the good of the community
it's for your own good
b :something useful or beneficial
it's no good trying
3 a :something that has economic utility or satisfies an economic want
b goods plural :personal property having intrinsic value but usually excluding money, securities, and negotiable instruments
c goods plural :cloth
d goods plural :something manufactured or produced for sale :wares, merchandise
canned goods
e goods plural, British :freight
4 :good persons —used with the
5 goods plural
a :the qualities required to achieve an end
b :proof of wrongdoing
didn't have the goods on him —T. G. Cooke
— for good or less commonly for good and all
:forever, permanently
She's gone for good.
— in good with
:in a favored position with
— to the good
1 :for the best :beneficial
efforts to restrict credit were all to the good—Time
2 :in a position of net gain or profit
wound up $10 to the good
See good defined for English-language learners
Examples of good in a Sentence
the battle of good versus evil
Teachers can be a strong force for good.
the difference between good and bad
They had to sacrifice lesser goods for greater ones.
What is life's highest good?
Parents must teach their children the difference between the good and the bad.
She believes that the good go to heaven when they die and the bad go to hell.
Only the good die young.
She believes there is some good in everyone.
Recent Examples of good from the Web
There was no person seen running away and Witt had just moments earlier bought a knife at a near-by sporting goods store.
—
jack moore, GQ, "White Guy Lied About Being Stabbed by Black Guy for Having a Nazi Haircut," 29 Aug. 2017
Durable goods tend to be expensive items, like furniture, appliances, and heavy machinery.
—
grace donnelly, Fortune, "Durable Goods Orders Fell 6.8%, Largely Because of Boeing," 25 Aug. 2017
The good: Newton remains one of the most difficult matchups in the league for any defensive coordinator.
—
ryan wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "NFC: Falcons look to rebound from Super Bowl collapse," 25 Aug. 2017
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'good.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of good
see 1good
good Synonyms
Synonyms
benediction, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, blessing, manna, windfall
Antonyms
affliction, bane, curse, evil, plague, scourge
Related Words
grace, mercy; favor, kindness, mitzvah; advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; anodyne, comfort, consolation, solace; bonus, extra, lagniappe; delight, joy, pleasure
Near Antonyms
hex, hoodoo, jinx; bother, irritant, nuisance, pest; disadvantage; cross, misery, trial, tribulation
3 good
adverb
Definition of good
1 :well
he showed me how good I was doing —Herbert Gold
2 —used as an intensive
a good long time
See good defined for English-language learners
good vs. well
Adverbial good has been under attack from the schoolroom since the 19th century. Insistence on well rather than good has resulted in a split in connotation: well is standard, neutral, and colorless, while good is emotionally charged and emphatic. This makes good the adverb of choice in sports.
⟨ "I'm seeing the ball real good" is what you hear —Roger Angell ⟩
In such contexts as
⟨ listen up. And listen good —Alex Karras ⟩
⟨ lets fly with his tomatoes before they can flee. He gets Clarence good —Charles Dickinson ⟩
good cannot be adequately replaced by well. Adverbial good is primarily a spoken form; in writing it occurs in reported and fictional speech and in generally familiar or informal contexts.
Examples of good in a Sentence
Things have been going good lately.
The team is doing good this year.
“How did you hit the ball today?” “Good.”
The other team whipped us good.
Recent Examples of good from the Web
There are so many battles to fight: creating good-paying jobs, addressing pay equity with African-American women and people of color, fighting for PEPFAR in advancing toward a cure for HIV/AIDS.
—
dayna evans, The Cut, "Congresswoman Barbara Lee Knows What It Takes to Fight Power," 22 Aug. 2017
The Committee believes that strategic investments in the physical science areas are vitally important for the United States to remain the global leader in innovation, productivity, economic growth, and good-paying jobs.
—
jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Why a flat 2018 budget could tie NSF’s hands," 14 July 2017
Over the past decade, as manufacturing employment shrank across the Rust Belt, Warsaw displayed a rare resilience, steadily adding good-paying factory positions that do not require a college degree.
—
danielle paquette, Alaska Dispatch News, "In one slice of the Midwest, a labor shortage weighs on the economy," 21 June 2017
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'good.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of good
see 1good
good Synonyms
Synonyms
acceptably, adequately, all right, alright, creditably, decently, fine, well, middlingly, nicely, OK (or okay), passably, respectably, satisfactorily, serviceably, so-so, sufficiently, tolerably
Antonyms
bad, badly, deficiently, ill, inadequately, insufficiently, intolerably, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily
Related Words
appropriately, aptly, congruously, correctly, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, happily, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably; gratifyingly, satisfyingly; effectively, effectually, efficiently, neatly, tidily
Near Antonyms
unbearably; inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, unsuitably; awfully, deplorably, disastrously, dreadfully, horrendously, horribly, horridly, miserably, terribly
GOOD Defined for English Language Learners
good play
adjective
Definition of good for English Language Learners
: of high quality
: of somewhat high but not excellent quality
: correct or proper
good
noun
Definition of good for English Language Learners
: morally good forces or influences
: something that is right or good
the good : the pleasant things that happen to people
good
adverb
Definition of good for English Language Learners
: completely and thoroughly
—used for emphasis before words like long and many
GOOD Defined for Kids
1 good play
adjective \ ˈgu̇d \
Definition of good for Students
better \ˈbe-tər\; best \ˈbest\
1 :better than average
good work
2 :skillful
a good dancer
3 :behaving well
a good child
4 :pleasant 1, enjoyable
We had a good time.
5 :healthful
Eat a good breakfast.
6 :of a favorable character or tendency
good news
7 :suitable for a use :satisfactory
You need good light for reading.
8 :desirable 1, attractive
He's looking for a good job.
9 :showing good sense or judgment
good advice
10 :closely following a standard of what is correct or proper
good manners
11 :reliable
a good neighbor
12 :helpful, kind
How good of you to wait!
13 :being honest and upright
She comes from a good family.
14 :being at least the amount mentioned
We waited a good hour.
15 :considerable
I need a good deal more.
— as good as
:almost
The car I'm selling is as good as new.
2 good
noun
Definition of good for Students
1 :welfare 1, benefit
Homework is for your own good.
2 :the good part of a person or thing
I believe there is good in all of us.
3 :something right or good
Good will come of this.
4 goods plural :products that are made for sale
canned goods
5 goods plural :personal property
He sold all his worldly goods.
Law Dictionary
1 good
adjective
legal Definition of good
better; best
1 :commercially sound or reliable
a good risk
2 a :valid or effectual under the law
b :free of defects
3 a :characterized by honesty and fairness
b :conforming to a standard of virtue
shall hold their offices during good behavior—U.S. Constitution art. III
; also :characterized by or relating to good behavior
2 good
noun
legal Definition of good
1 :advancement of prosperity and well-being
for the good of the community
2 :an item of tangible movable personal property having value but usually excluding money, securities, and negotiable instruments —usually used in pl. : as
a plural :all things under section 2-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code that are movable at the time of identification to the contract for sale other than information, the money that is to be paid, investment securities, the subject matter of foreign exchange transactions, and choses in action
b plural :all things under section 9-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code that are movable at the time that a security interest in them attaches or that are fixtures but excluding money, documents, instruments, accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, commercial tort claims, deposit accounts, investment property, letter-of-credit rights, letters of credit, and minerals or the like before extraction
— consumer goods
:goods purchased primarily for personal, family, or household uses
— durable goods
:consumer goods that last and are used for a number of years :durables
— fungible goods
:goods of which any unit is by nature or by usage of trade the equivalent of any other like unit especially as defined by section 1-201 of the Uniform Commercial Code
— future goods
:goods that are the subject of a contract but are not yet existing or specified
— hard goods
:durable goods in this entry
— household goods
:goods used in connection with the home; specifically :furniture, furnishings, and personal effects used in a dwelling as defined by section 7-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code
— mobile goods
:goods as formerly defined in section 9-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code that are mobile, are of a type (as vehicles) usually used in more than one jurisdiction, are not covered by a certificate of title, and are either the equipment of a debtor or inventory leased by a debtor
— ordinary goods
:goods as formerly defined by section 9-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code that are anything other than those covered by a certificate of title, mobile goods, or minerals
— producer goods
:goods (as tools and raw materials) used to produce other goods and satisfy human wants only indirectly
— soft goods
:consumer goods that are not durable goods
Learn More about good
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for good Spanish Central: Translation of good Nglish: Translation of good for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of good for Arabic speakers
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