good

GUUD/ɡʊd/

Adjectivebetter, best

Adverbbetter, best

Noun pluralgoods

Often confused with well

39 meanings of good

Practice

1
high qualityadjective
Made or done well, or better than most others of its kind.
These are good shoes, and they will last for years.
He got good grades on his report card.
UsageSay better and best: this one is better.
Similargreat, excellent, decent, fine
Oppositebad, poor
2
adjective
Doing its job well, or useful for a particular purpose.
This soap is very good at getting out mud.
Old newspaper is good for cleaning windows.
UsageSay good for a use, or good at doing something.
Similareffective, useful, great, handy, suitable
Oppositeuseless, ineffective, bad, poor
3
adverbcolloquial
In a proper way, well or completely.
Make sure you tie that rope good so the boat doesn't float away.
Stir the paint good before you start, or the color will be uneven.
UsageIn formal writing, use well: she did well.
Similarwell, thoroughly, properly
Oppositebadly, poorly
Note
4
adjective
Positive or hopeful, like good news, good reviews, or a good sign.
We got good news from the doctor today.
A black cat is a good omen in some countries.
Similarfavorable, promising, positive, auspicious, encouraging
Oppositebad, unfavorable, inauspicious
5
adjective
Enjoyable to have or do, or nice to eat.
We had a good time at the beach.
It was a good party.
Similarpleasant, enjoyable, nice, lovely, delightful
Oppositeunpleasant, bad, awful, horrible
6
adjective
Able to do something well, often used with 'at'.
She is a good swimmer.
He was never a good fisherman, but he liked the river.
UsageSay good at something: good at math.
Similarskilled, skillful, talented, able, competent
Oppositebad, poor, incompetent, inept
Note
7
adjective
Helpful or worth doing, especially for your health or happiness.
Sleep is good for you, so go to bed early.
Exercise is a good habit.
UsageSay good for you, good for your body.
Similarbeneficial, worthwhile, healthy, helpful, wholesome
Oppositebad, harmful, detrimental, damaging
8
adjective
Kind, honest and right, said of a person or of the things they do.
She is a good woman who helps everyone.
He meant well, and his intentions were good.
UsageSay good to someone, and it was good of you to help.
Similarkind, virtuous, decent, moral, upright
Oppositeevil, bad, wicked, immoral
Note
9
merchandisenouncountable
Things that are bought and sold, or things a person owns that can be moved, usually used in the plural.
The shop sells leather goods.
Goods bought abroad may be taxed at the border.
UsageSay the goods are here. For one thing, say an item.
Similarcommodity, product, merchandise, wares
Note
10
close (friend)adjective
Used about a friend or friendship that is close and that you trust and care about.
Sam is a good friend of mine from school.
We have been good friends for ten years.
UsageSay a good friend of mine, or a good friend to me.
Similarclose, dear
11
adjective
Right, or the way something should be.
The oil level is good, so we can drive now.
The doctor checked my blood pressure and said it was good.
Similarright, proper, fine
Oppositewrong, bad
Note
12
large amountadjective
Large or long, used about an amount or a period of time.
We waited a good while longer.
A good part of the day was spent shopping.
UsageSay a good many people or a good deal of time.
Similargreat, considerable, fair, large, substantial
Oppositesmall
13
adjective
Strong and sensible enough to convince people.
She had good reasons for leaving.
Do you have a good reason for being late?
UsageOften said as good enough.
Similarvalid, sufficient, adequate, sound, legitimate
Oppositepoor, weak, inadequate, insufficient
14
noununcountable
What is right or kind, or helps people live well.
Try to see the good in other people.
She has done a lot of good for the people in her town.
UsageSay the good of the town, or a force for good.
Similargoodness, virtue, right, benefit, welfare
Oppositeevil, bad, wrong, harm
Note
15
nouncountable
A helpful or happy result of something.
One good came out of the storm: we met our neighbors.
Some good came out of losing my job, because I found a better one.
UsageOften with come of or come out of: no good will come of it.
Similarbenefit, advantage, upside, plus, positive
Oppositebad

Less common meanings

16
well behavedadjective
Used about children or animals that behave well and do as they are told.
Our dog was very good at the vet and sat still the whole time.
If you're good at the store, I'll buy you an ice cream later.
UsagePeople say good boy or good girl to children and pets.
Similarwell-behaved, obedient
Oppositenaughty, bad, disobedient
17
all setadjectiveUS
Fine or OK and not needing anything else, as in 'I'm good, thanks' or 'I'm good with that.'
Would you like water? No, I'm good.
Another beer? I think you're good.
UsageI'm good can mean "no, thanks".
Similarfine, okay, set
18
OK theninterjection
Used to show you are pleased, or to praise someone.
Good, you found your keys, so now we can finally leave.
Good, that's settled then.
Similargreat, fine, right
19
healthyadjective
Healthy and feeling well. Also used of a body part that is not hurt and works normally.
I didn't feel good this morning, so I stayed home.
He broke his right arm, so he writes with his good one.
UsageSay I don't feel good when you are sick.
Similarwell, fine, healthy
Oppositesick, ill, bad
20
clean (name)adjective
Respected and free of anything shameful.
He guarded his good name carefully.
She comes from a good family.
UsageUsed in phrases like a good name.
Similarhonorable, respectable, unblemished, spotless
Oppositebad, poor
21
still freshadjective
Used about food that is still fresh and has not gone bad.
These eggs are still good, so we can use them for the cake.
Is this milk good, or should I throw it out?
UsageUse still good to say food has not gone bad.
Similarfresh, edible, okay, usable
Oppositebad, off, rotten, spoiled
Note
22
adjective
Used about an amount that is fair and enough.
For a small child, one scoop of ice cream is a good serving.
Two cups of rice is a good amount for four people.
Similardecent, fair, reasonable, healthy, generous
23
whole (amount)adjective
Fully, or at least as much as the number given.
The climb takes a good hour and a half.
The movie was a good three hours long, and my legs fell asleep.
UsageSay a good hour: at least an hour, maybe more.
Similarfull, whole, solid
Note
24
still in effectadjective
Still true or still able to be used, like a passport that has not run out.
The theory still holds good at high temperatures.
This bus ticket is good for one more week.
UsageA rule that holds good is still true.
Similarvalid, true, sound, reliable, solid
Oppositeinvalid, false, void
Note
25
very (with and)adjectivecolloquial
Very, when followed by 'and' and another describing word.
By the time we got home, we were good and tired.
Make sure the paint is good and dry first.
UsageAlso before adverbs: hit it good and hard. Good and ready often means when I want, not sooner.
Similarvery
Note
26
adjective
Special, best or favorite, said with stress on the word.
Don't use the good plates for the picnic, use the paper ones.
These are my good jeans, and now they're torn.
UsageUse it before a noun, after my or the: my good shirt, the good plates.
Similarspecial, nice, fancy
Oppositeeveryday
Note
27
will pay backadjective
Sure to pay back money that you owe, used with "for", as in "good for it".
Can I borrow ten dollars until Friday? I'm good for it.
The shop owner let Mrs. Lee pay later because she was good for the money.
28
adjectivearchaic
From a high-ranking family, or holding a high place in society.
Thou art a Traitor, and a Miſcreant; Too good to be ſo, and too bad to liue, Since the more faire and chriſtall is the skie, The vglier ſeeme the cloudes that in it flye:
1595, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”
29
adjectiveobsolete
Truly meant, not fake.
Love no man in good earnest.
c. 1598, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”
30
adjective
Of food, filling and healthy enough.
31
adjective
Holy, as in 'Good Friday'.
32
verbdialectal
To grow strong, fat or rich.
33
verbdialectal
To make something better.
34
verbdialectal
To fix things or make them better.
35
verbdialectal
To get something useful out of a thing.
36
verbdialectal
To help someone and make life better for them.
37
verbdialectal
To please someone or give them what they want.
38
verbdialectal
To feel pleased with yourself or look forward to something.
39
verbdialectalScotland
To put manure on land so plants grow better.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of good apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4–8, 10–13, 16–27

It comes from the Old English word gōd. That word goes back to old Germanic and Indo-European roots that meant to fit or suit. It shares a root with "gather" and "together," but despite how it looks, it has no link to "god."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Good comes from Old English gōd. en.wiktionary.org
The word has Germanic and Indo-European ancestry associated with fitting or suiting. en.wiktionary.org
Good shares a root with gather and together. en.wiktionary.org
Good is not etymologically related to god. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 3

The adverb comes from Middle English goode, formed from the adjective 'good'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The adverb descends from Middle English goode, formed from the adjective good. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 9, 14–15

From Old English gōd meaning a good thing, benefit, or property, from an old Germanic word for goods and belongings.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun good descends from Old English gōd, whose meanings included a good thing, benefit, and property. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English noun derives from a Germanic word meaning goods and belongings. en.wiktionary.org