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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
My dogs are trained really well, good temperaments. Stepheny Price, Fox News, 16 Nov. 2023 Many of the patients, mostly competitive or recreational athletes, also reported good knee stability and function, and were able to return to their sport a year later. Katie Camero, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023 Mattel, the toy company that owns huge franchises like Hot Wheels and Barbie, is facing a new lawsuit brought by UCLA and its health system, claiming the company failed to make good on a pledge to donate $50 million to the university's children's hospital. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023 Think about some of the most iconic moments in modern TV history, and there’s a good chance Don Mischer was in the control room. Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023 But instead of playing off the tragedy to raise its profile, Parmalee — which includes guitarist Josh McSwain — did its best to avoid the topic. Tom Roland, Billboard, 15 Nov. 2023 One of the title’s best, absolutely absurd sequences involves Mario chasing Peach—who’s strapped to the back of her captor, a bearded weirdo named Booster—uphill, dodging barrels and minions as she’s rushed off to a chapel to get married against her will. WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023 Experts recommend adopting heart-healthy habits from a young age, to best support biomarkers that impact biological age and quality of life. Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 15 Nov. 2023 Cat in Alaska reunited with owners 26 days after home collapsed into river More Caitlin O'Kane Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2023
Noun
Authorities said the duo used the storage facility as a distribution center for the massive amounts of knock-off designer goods. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 16 Nov. 2023 The consumer price index—which measures a wide basket of goods and services prices—rose 4.6% on year, falling from 6.7% in September, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. Ed Frankl, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023 The wholesale price of goods fell 1.4% from September to October, pulled down by a 15.3% drop in the price of gasoline. Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023 Behavioral science research suggests that these actually improve happiness more than physical goods. Mallika Mitra, wsj.com, 14 Nov. 2023 Watkins scored 13 of the Trojans’ first 15 points in the fourth and then sat down for good. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023 Chinese goods pressed down American prices 0.19 percent a year from 2004 to 2015, another study found. Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023 Best Perfume Gift Sets for Her (and Just About Everyone On Your List) The gift of smelling good is always appreciated. Condé Nast, Allure, 13 Nov. 2023 The Bureau of Economic Analysis notes that the bulk of recent spending came from outlays on durable goods, things like cars and household appliances. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
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 See More

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 28 Nov. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on good

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!