Merriam-Webster Logo SINCE 1828 Menu JOIN MWU GAMES THESAURUS WORD OF THE DAY VIDEO WORDS AT PLAY FAVORITES Follow: See What's Trending Now 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 Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd alt-59b7f5e5c9a7f Trending: 'Carceral' Spikes Amid Twitter Backlash stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns! imaginary The Good, the Bad, and the Dictionary: Adjectives that Look Like Nouns video-title-words-of-the-year-1066 Words of the Year: 1066 alt-59b7f5e5c9a7f Trending: 'Carceral' Spikes Amid Twitter Backlash stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns! imaginary The Good, the Bad, and the Dictionary: Adjectives that Look Like Nouns video-title-words-of-the-year-1066 Words of the Year: 1066 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 Seen and Heard What made you want to look up good? 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