good

1 of 3

adjective

better ˈbe-tər How to pronounce good (audio) ; best ˈbest How to pronounce good (audio)
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 goodFrank 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
g sports
(1)
of a serve or shot : landing in the proper area of the court in tennis and similar games
The serve was good.
(2)
of a shot or kick : successfully done
(basketball) The first foul shot was good but she missed the second one.
(American football) The kick was good from 45 yards.
The kick was no good. [=was missed]
h
informal : having everything desired or required : content and not wanting or needing to do anything further
"Do you want anything else to drink?" "No thanks, I'm good."
"I have had girlfriends say, 'Hey, you wanna go walking?' And I'm just not interested. I'm like 'Uh, no, I'm good.' But they keep inviting me!"Laila Ali
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 adjective
Good vs. Well: Usage Guide

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.

good

2 of 3

noun

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 ˈgu̇dz How to pronounce good (audio) 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 himT. G. Cooke

good

3 of 3

adverb

1
: well
he showed me how good I was doingHerbert Gold
2
used as an intensive
a good long time
Good vs. Well: Usage Guide

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.

Phrases
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 \ ˌgu̇d-​ᵊn How to pronounce good (audio) \
: very, entirely
was good and mad
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 goodTime
2
: in a position of net gain or profit
wound up $10 to the good

Examples of good in a Sentence

Adjective 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. Noun 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. Adverb 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 on the Web
Adjective
The show also isn’t especially good at putting its finger on any particular pulse. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 There is a lot going on in the world, a lot of it not good. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Each of the Democratic candidates did their best to burnish the bona fides about who would be the best bulwark against the former president. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Crystal trophies will be awarded for best vocals, choreography, costumes, instrumentals, the People’s Choice and Grand Champion. Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 The multi-element ICP results show good, positive relationships between Au, Cu, Bi, Ag, As, W and K (potassic alteration), negative relationships with Mo, Sb and Ca. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 First baseman Troy Johnston -- the Marlins’ best offensive player in the minors last season — is hitting 4 for 9. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Actors lived their best lives Saturday night at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards – giving each other trophies and looking darned good doing so. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 With a sixth-place finish in the race last March, Hamlin earned his best finish in four starts since the track was reconfigured in 2022. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2024
Noun
On the lower lot vendors offered organic candles, sustainable-cotton clothing, a rainbow of crystals and other home goods. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Credit card players will get a 200% match up to $1,000 on their first deposit as well as a 100% match good for up to $500 on their next eight deposits – for a total of $5,000. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Shira Ovide writes The Washington Post's The Tech Friend, a newsletter about making your technology into a force for good. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Next, lay the largest sweets such as the baked goods and chocolate bunny on the platter. Joy Howard, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Independent sellers are the invisible secret behind the massive selection on Amazon’s marketplace, accounting for more than 60% of all goods sold on Amazon for the first time ever in the fourth quarter of 2023. Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 In comments before a House panel on Wednesday that echoed his previous outlook, Powell noted that U.S. prices are falling for both goods and services. CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 The New York-Italian style bakery has a long list of baked goods on its menu, with everything made in-house and from scratch, including: Muffins Cookies Biscotti Macarons Cakes Tiramisu Pies Read Next Looking for a sweet or savory treat? Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 The price of many goods is now set by the black-market value of the dollar, which rose to around 70 pounds to the dollar last month, compared with about 16 before the crisis. Nada Rashwan, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Ethics and dangers are obvious concerns, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that AI has the potential to do profound good beyond pithy conversation with some chatbot. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Josh has been able to swing back and forth pretty good which helps his value. Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2023 On its own or in a cocktail, the fact is that smoky single malts taste pretty good in hot weather. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 July 2023 Our work is paying off, with nearly 13,000 good-paying jobs secured. Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2023 There will be some weak performing companies that will bid good-bye to their CEOs while others will close their doors. Walter Loeb, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2023 That’s the message that Caroline’s aunt reportedly tweeted, saying good-bye to her niece, according to the online version of the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, California. Cnn Staff, CNN, 14 Dec. 2022 The Phillies are moving on, and will open the NL Division Series Tuesday against Atlanta, the defending World Series champions, while saying good-bye to the Cardinals’ icons. Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2022 Deadline reports that longtime cast members Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney will also be saying good-bye after the May 21 finale. Vulture, 20 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'good.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Adverb

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

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of good was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near good

Cite this Entry

“Good.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/good. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

good

1 of 3 adjective
better ˈbet-ər How to pronounce good (audio) ; best ˈbest How to pronounce good (audio)
1
a
: of a favorable character or tendency
good news
b
: fertile sense 1
good land
c
d
: agreeable sense 1, pleasant
a good place to live
e
: suitable sense 1, fit
good to eat
a remedy good for a cold
f
: reliable
a good friend in a pinch
g
: sound entry 1 sense 1a
one good arm
2
a
: certain to last or live
good for another year
b
: certain to provide or produce
always good for a laugh
3
a
: of a noticeably large size or quantity
present in good numbers
b
: full entry 1 sense 2a
waited a good hour
4
a
: based on sound reasoning, information, judgment, or grounds
good reasons
b
: true entry 1 sense 2
holds good for society as a whole
c
: deserving of respect or honor
a member in good standing
d
: legally valid
has a good title
5
b
: conforming to a standard
good English
c
: showing or favoring high quality
good taste
6
a
: virtuous, just
a good person
b
: right entry 1 sense 2
good conduct
c
: kind entry 2 sense 1, benevolent
good intentions
d
: being of the upper class
of good family
e
: skillful sense 1
a good doctor
f
: loyal sense 2
a good party member
goodness noun

good

2 of 3 noun
1
: something good, useful, or desirable
health and prosperity are goods
2
: benefit entry 1 sense 1a, welfare
the good of the community
3
plural : cloth sense 1
4
plural : manufactured articles or products of art or craft
5
: good persons
used with the
6
plural : proof of wrongdoing
got the goods on them

good

3 of 3 adverb

Legal Definition

good

1 of 2 adjective
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 behaviorU.S. Constitution art. III
also : characterized by or relating to good behavior

good

2 of 2 noun
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

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