good (better comparative) (best superlative )
1 adj Good means pleasant or enjoyable., (Antonym: bad)
We had a really good time together..., I know they would have a better life here..., There's nothing better than a good cup of hot coffee..., It's so good to hear your voice after all this time.
2 adj Good means of a high quality, standard, or level., (Antonym: poor)
Exercise is just as important to health as good food..., His parents wanted Raymond to have the best possible education..., ...good quality furniture.
3 adj If you are good at something, you are skilful and successful at doing it.
oft ADJ at n/-ing (Antonym: bad, poor)
He was very good at his work..., I'm not very good at singing..., He is one of the best players in the world..., I always played football with my older brother because I was good for my age.
4 adj If you describe a piece of news, an action, or an effect as good, you mean that it is likely to result in benefit or success.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: bad)
On balance biotechnology should be good news for developing countries..., I had the good fortune to be selected..., This is not a good example to set other children..., I think the response was good.
5 adj A good idea, reason, method, or decision is a sensible or valid one.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: bad, poor)
They thought it was a good idea to make some offenders do community service..., There is good reason to doubt this..., Could you give me some advice on the best way to do this?
6 adj If you say that it is goodthat something should happen or goodto do something, you mean it is desirable, acceptable, or right.
usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that/to-inf (Antonym: bad)
I think it's good that some people are going..., It is always best to choose organically grown foods if possible.
7 adj A good estimate or indication of something is an accurate one.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: poor)
We have a fairly good idea of what's going on..., This is a much better indication of what a school is really like..., Laboratory tests are not always a good guide to what happens in the world.
8 adj If you get a good deal or a good price when you buy or sell something, you receive a lot in exchange for what you give.
usu ADJ n
Whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations..., The merchandise is reasonably priced and offers exceptionally good value.
9 adj If something is good for a person or organization, it benefits them.
v-link ADJ for n
(=beneficial) (Antonym: bad)
Rain water was once considered to be good for the complexion..., Nancy chose the product because it is better for the environment.
10 n-sing If something is done for thegood of a person or organization, it is done in order to benefit them.
with poss
(=benefit)
Furlaud urged him to resign for the good of the country..., I'm only telling you this for your own good!
11 n-uncount If someone or something is no good or is not any good, they are not satisfactory or are of a low standard.
with brd-neg
If the weather's no good then I won't take any pictures..., I was never any good at maths.
12 n-uncount If you say that doing something is no good or does not do any good, you mean that doing it is not of any use or will not bring any success.
usu with brd-neg
It's no good worrying about it now..., We gave them water and kept them warm, but it didn't do any good..., There is no way to measure these effects; the chances are it did some good.
13 n-uncount Good is what is considered to be right according to moral standards or religious beliefs., (Antonym: evil)
Good and evil may co-exist within one family.
14 adj Someone who is good is morally correct in their attitudes and behaviour., (Antonym: bad)
The president is a good man..., For me to think I'm any better than a homeless person on the street is ridiculous.
15 adj Someone, especially a child, who is good obeys rules and instructions and behaves in a socially correct way., (Antonym: bad)
The children were very good..., I'm going to be a good boy now..., Both boys had good manners, politely shaking hands.
16 adj Someone who is good is kind and thoughtful.
You are good to me..., Her good intentions were thwarted almost immediately...
17 adj Someone who is in a good mood is cheerful and pleasant to be with.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: bad)
People were in a pretty good mood..., He exudes natural charm and good humour..., A relaxation session may put you in a better frame of mind.
18 adj If people are good friends, they get on well together and are very close.
ADJ n
She and Gavin are good friends..., She's my best friend, and I really love her.
19 adj A person's good eye, arm, or leg is the one that is healthy and strong, if the other one is injured or weak.
ADJ n (Antonym: bad)
20 adj You use good to emphasize the great extent or degree of something.
a ADJ n (emphasis)
We waited a good fifteen minutes..., This whole thing's got a good bit more dangerous.
21 convention You say `Good' or `Very good' to express pleasure, satisfaction, or agreement with something that has been said or done, especially when you are in a position of authority.
`Are you all right?'<emdash10001`I'm fine.'<emdash10002`Good. So am I.'..., Oh good, Tom's just come in...
22
→
best
→
better
→
goods
23 `As good as' can be used to mean `almost.'
as good as phrase v-link PHR adj/-ed/v
(=practically)
His career is as good as over..., The vote as good as kills the chance of real reform.
24 If you say that something will do someone good, you mean that it will benefit them or improve them.
do sb good phrase V inflects, oft it PHR if/to-inf
The outing will do me good..., It's probably done you good to get away for a few hours..., You don't do anybody any good by getting yourself arrested.
25 If something changes or disappears for good, it never changes back or comes back as it was before.
for good phrase PHR after v
The days of big-time racing at Herne Hill had gone for good..., A few shots of this drug cleared up the disease for good.
26 People say `Good for you' to express approval of your actions.
good for you/him/her/them convention
(feelings)
`He has a girl now, who he lives with.'—`Good for him.'
27 If you say it's a good thing, or in British English it's a good job, that something is the case, you mean that it is fortunate.
it's a good job/a good thing phrase V inflects
It's a good thing you aren't married..., It's a good job it happened here rather than on the open road.
28 If you make good some damage, a loss, or a debt, you try to repair the damage, replace what has been lost, or repay the debt.
make good phrase V inflects, PHR n
(=put right)
It may cost several billion roubles to make good the damage.
29 If someone makes good a threat or promise or makes good on it, they do what they have threatened or promised to do.
(mainly AM)
make good phrase V inflects, PHR n, PHR on n
Certain that he was going to make good his threat to kill her, she lunged for the gun..., He was confident the allies would make good on their pledges.
30 If you say that something or someone is as good as new, you mean that they are in a very good condition or state, especially after they have been damaged or ill.
as good as new phrase usu v-link PHR
I only ever use that on special occasions so it's as good as new..., In a day or so he will be as good as new.
31 You use good old before the name of a person, place, or thing when you are referring to them in an affectionate way.
good old phrase PHR n (feelings)
Good old Harry. Reliable to the end...
32 →
good deal →
deal →
in good faith →
faith →
so far so good →
far →
good as gold →
gold →
good gracious →
gracious →
good grief →
grief →
good heavens →
heaven →
good job →
job →
good lord →
lord →
for good measure →
measure →
the good old days →
old →
in good shape →
shape →
to stand someone in good stead →
stead →
in good time →
time →
too good to be true →
true
feel-good , feelgood
1 adj A feel-good film is a film which presents people and life in a way which makes the people who watch it feel happy and optimistic.
ADJ n
...a bright and enjoyable feelgood romance.
2 When journalists refer to the feel-good factor, they mean that people are feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future.
feel-good factor phrase
There were obvious signs of the feel-good factor in the last survey taken in the wake of the election result.
good afternoon
You say `Good afternoon' when you are greeting someone in the afternoon.
FORMAL convention
(formulae)
good day
People sometimes say `Good day' instead of `Hello' or `Goodbye'.
OLD-FASHIONED convention
(formulae)
Well, I'd better be off. Good day to you.
good evening
You say `Good evening' when you are greeting someone in the evening.
FORMAL convention
(formulae)
good-for-nothing (good-for-nothings plural )If you describe someone as good-for-nothing, you think that they are lazy or irresponsible. adj ADJ n
...a good-for-nothing fourteen-year-old son who barely knows how to read and count.
Good-for-nothing is also a noun., n-count
...lazy good-for-nothings.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the day on which Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the Friday before Easter Sunday. n-uncount
good guy (good guys plural )You can refer to the good characters in a film or story as the good guys. You can also refer to the good guys in a situation in real life.
(mainly AM)
INFORMAL n-count usu pl
(=goody) (Antonym: bad guy)
There was a fine line between the good guys and the bad guys.
in BRIT, use goodies
good-humoured
in AM, use good-humored
A good-humoured person or atmosphere is pleasant and cheerful. adj
Charles was brave and remarkably good-humoured..., It was a good humoured conference.
good-looking (better-looking comparative) (best-looking superlative )Someone who is good-looking has an attractive face. adj
Cassandra noticed him because he was good-looking., ...a good-looking woman.
good morning
You say `Good morning' when you are greeting someone in the morning.
FORMAL convention
(formulae)
good-natured
A good-natured person or animal is naturally friendly and does not get angry easily. adj
He was good natured about it, he didn't fuss.
good-tempered
A good-tempered person or animal is naturally friendly and pleasant and does not easily get angry or upset. adj
(=good-natured)
He was a happy, good-tempered child., ...a horse which is quiet and good tempered.
