English Dictionary

Definition of “good”

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good (ɡʊdPronunciation for good) 

Definitions

adjective

Word forms: better, best
  1. having admirable, pleasing, superior, or positive qualities; not negative, bad or mediocre  ⇒ a good idea a good teacher 
    1. morally excellent or admirable; virtuous; righteous  ⇒ a good man 
    2. ((as collective noun;  preceded by ( preceded by the)  ⇒ the good 
  3. suitable or efficient for a purpose  ⇒ a good secretary a good winter coat 
  4. beneficial or advantageous  ⇒ vegetables are good for you 
  5. not ruined or decayed; sound or whole  ⇒ the meat is still good 
  6. kindly, generous, or approving  ⇒ you are good to him 
  7. right or acceptable  ⇒ your qualifications are good for the job 
  8. rich and fertile  ⇒ good land 
  9. valid or genuine  ⇒ I would not do this without good reason 
  10. honourable or held in high esteem  ⇒ a good family 
  11. commercially or financially secure, sound, or safe  ⇒ good securities a good investment 
  12. (of a draft) drawn for a stated sum
  13. (of debts) expected to be fully paid
  14. clever, competent, or talented  ⇒ he's good at science 
  15. obedient or well-behaved  ⇒ a good dog 
  16. reliable, safe, or recommended  ⇒ a good make of clothes 
  17. affording material pleasure or indulgence  ⇒ the good things in life the good life 
  18. having a well-proportioned, beautiful, or generally fine appearance  ⇒ a good figure a good complexion 
  19. complete; full  ⇒ I took a good look round the house 
  20. propitious; opportune  ⇒ a good time to ask the manager for a rise 
  21. satisfying or gratifying  ⇒ a good rest 
  22. comfortable  ⇒ did you have a good night? 
  23. newest or of the best quality  ⇒ to keep the good plates for important guests 
  24. fairly large, extensive, or long  ⇒ a good distance away 
  25. sufficient; ample  ⇒ we have a good supply of food 
  26. US (of meat) of the third government grade, above (of meat) of the third government grade, above standard  and below (of meat) of the third government grade, above and below choice
  27. serious or intellectual  ⇒ good music 
  28. used in a traditional description  ⇒ the good ship ``America'' 
  29. used in polite or patronizing phrases or to express anger (often intended ironically)  ⇒ how is your good lady? look here, my good man! 
  30. See a good one
  31. See as good as
  32. See as good as gold
  33. See be as good as to
  34. See come good
  35. See good and
  36. (intensifier; used in mild oaths)  ⇒ good grief! good heavens! 

exclamation

  1. an exclamation of approval, agreement, pleasure, etc

noun

  1. moral or material advantage or use; benefit or profit  ⇒ for the good of our workers what is the good of worrying? 
  2. positive moral qualities; goodness; virtue; righteousness; piety
  3. (sometimes capital) moral qualities seen as a single abstract entity  ⇒ we must pursue the Good 
  4. a good thing
  5. economics a commodity or service that satisfies a human need
  6. See for good
  7. See make good
  8. See good on you
  9. See get any good of

See also

goods

Alternative Forms

ˈgoodish adjective

Word Origin

Old English gōd;  related to Old Norse gōthr,  Old High German guot good

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= excellent, great, fine, pleasing, capital, choice, crucial, acceptable, pleasant, worthy, first-class, divine, splendid, satisfactory, superb, enjoyable, awesome, dope, world-class, admirable, agreeable, super, pleasurable, wicked, bad, first-rate, tiptop, bitchin', booshit, exo, sik, rad, phat, schmick, beaut, barrie, belting, pearler,
= fine, excellent, superior, first-class, first-rate, choice,
= proficient, able, skilled, capable, expert, talented, efficient, clever, accomplished, reliable, first-class, satisfactory, competent, thorough, tasty, adept, first-rate, adroit, dexterous,
= positive, beneficial, favourable, advantageous, auspicious, propitious,
= sensible, useful, wise, valuable, suitable, worthwhile, constructive, shrewd, prudent, sound, commendable, judicious, well-thought-out, well-reasoned,
= desirable, pleasing, positive, productive, satisfying, beneficial, constructive, gratifying, advantageous,
= clear, correct, accurate, exact, precise, definite,
= profitable, fair, reasonable, adequate, lucrative,
= beneficial, useful, healthy, helpful, favourable, wholesome, advantageous, salutary, salubrious,
= honourable, moral, worthy, ethical, upright, admirable, honest, righteous, exemplary, right, virtuous, trustworthy, altruistic, praiseworthy, estimable,
= well-behaved, seemly, mannerly, proper, polite, orderly, obedient, dutiful, decorous, well-mannered,
= kind, kindly, friendly, obliging, charitable, humane, gracious, benevolent, merciful, beneficent, well-disposed, kind-hearted,
= cheerful, happy, pleasant, agreeable, congenial, convivial,
= true, real, genuine, proper, reliable, dependable, sound, trustworthy, dinkum,
= full, long, whole, complete, entire, solid, extensive,
= considerable, large, substantial, sufficient, adequate, ample,
= valid, convincing, compelling, legitimate, authentic, persuasive, sound, bona fide,
= best, newest, special, finest, nicest, smartest, fancy, most valuable most precious
= sunny, clear, fair, bright, calm, mild, clement, halcyon, balmy, cloudless, sunshiny,
= edible, untainted, uncorrupted, eatable, fit to eat,
= convenient, timely, fitting, fit, appropriate, suitable, well-timed, opportune,
= benefit, interest, gain, advantage, use, service, profit, welfare, behalf, avail, usefulness, wellbeing,
= virtue, goodness, righteousness, worth, merit, excellence, morality, probity, rectitude, uprightness,

Quotations

  • "Mostly, we are good when it makes sense. A good society is one that makes sense of being good" Ian McEwan
  • "Being good is just a matter of temperament in the end" Iris Murdoch
  • "No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand" Bertolt Brecht
  • "`For your own good' is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction" Janet Frame
  • "No people do so much harm as those who go about doing good" Bishop Mandell Creighton
  • "Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame" Alexander Pope

Translations

  • British English: good Pronunciation for good If you say that something is good, you like it.That was a good film.ɡʊd ADJECTIVE That was a good film.
  • Spanish: bueno Pronunciation for bueno adj buena
  • French: bon Pronunciation for bon adj
  • German: gut Pronunciation for gut adj
  • Chinese: 好的Pronunciation for 好的 adj
  • Arabic: جَيِّدPronunciation for جَيِّد adj
  • Portuguese: bomPronunciation for bom adj boa
  • Russian: хорошийPronunciation for хороший adj хорошая
  • Croatian: dobarPronunciation for dobar adj dobra
  • Czech: dobrýPronunciation for dobrý adj
  • Danish: godPronunciation for god adj
  • Dutch: goedPronunciation for goed adj
  • Finnish: hyväPronunciation for hyvä adj
  • Greek: καλόςPronunciation for καλός adj καλή
  • Italian: buonoPronunciation for buono adj buona
  • Japanese: 良いPronunciation for 良い adj
  • Korean: 좋은Pronunciation for 좋은 adj
  • Norwegian: braPronunciation for bra adj
  • Polish: dobryPronunciation for dobry adj dobra
  • Brazilian Portuguese: bomPronunciation for bom adj boa
  • European Spanish: bueno Pronunciation for bueno adj buena
  • Swedish: braPronunciation for bra adj
  • Thai: ดีPronunciation for ดี adj
  • Turkish: iyiPronunciation for iyi adj
  • Vietnamese: tốtPronunciation for tốt adj
  • British English: good If you are good, you behave well.Be good while I am out.ɡʊd ADJECTIVE Be good while I am out.
  • French: bien éduqué
  • Arabic: لَطِيف adj
  • Brazilian Portuguese: bom adj boa
  • British English: good If you are good at something, you do it well.She is good at drawing.ɡʊd ADJECTIVE She is good at drawing.
  • French: bon adj
  • Arabic: مَاهِر adj
  • Brazilian Portuguese: bom adj boa

Usage examples

  • Malone sat quiet, enjoying the dinner because of the others ' good humour, but not joining in.
    Jon Cleary, YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
  • Would have liked to finish the match myself, but we still look in pretty good shape.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Mr Justice O'Sullivan noted the evidence and written submissions as to the defendant's previous good character.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • The mere act of signalling something which has troubled us, for good reasons or bad, can be liberating.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Knowing they were onto a good thing, the guards upped the ante to £500.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'G'

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