good

I UK [ɡʊd] / US adjective
Word forms "good":
adjective good comparative better UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] superlative best UK [best] / US
***

1) of a high quality or standard

We saw a really good film last night.

They were all dressed in their best clothes.

These dishes are too good to use every day.

How good is his English?

2)

a) able to do something well

Francine was a very good cook.

good at:

Bob is pretty good at fixing things.

b) able to deal with someone or something well, or able to use something well

good with:

Gina has always been good with animals.

Jake is really good with his hands (= skilful at making or doing things using his hands).

3) having the necessary qualities

This rock will make a good paperweight.

good for:

Electric cars are good for driving around town.

a) reasonable or sensible

Dad gave me some really good advice.

This is surely the best argument against the death penalty.

Give me one good reason why I should lend you money.

b) suitable and likely to produce the results or conditions you want

Now would be a good time to ask for a pay rise.

What's the best way to get to the motorway from here?

c) convenient

What's a good time to call you?

good for:

Thursday is good for me – can you make it then?

4) honest and morally correct

George had always tried to lead a good life.

It would be good if you gave the money back.

a) willing to obey and behave in a socially correct way

Ruth's children are always so good.

as good as gold:

He sat there as good as gold the whole time.

be a good boy/girl:

Be a good boy and play quietly.

b) willing to obey all the rules of a particular religion or organization

a good Catholic

c) kind, generous, and willing to help

good to:

Helen's parents were always good to us.

good about:

Sheryl's brother has been good about helping out with the new baby.

it is good of someone to do something:

It was so good of you to come.

5) giving you a happy or pleasant feeling

We had such a good time in Madrid.

A hot bath would be good now.

One more piece of good news: Beth had a bouncing baby girl!

it is/feels good to do something:

It's good to finally meet you.

6) attractive

Carol looks good with short hair, don't you think?

7) feeling healthy

I don't feel very good – I'm going to lie down.

a) feeling happy

He's not in a very good mood.

b) making you healthy or happy

good for:

Exercise is good for you.

it is good (for someone) to do something:

It's not good to eat so much junk food.

c) giving benefits to something

good for:

The recent tax cuts will be good for business.

8)

a) fairly large in amount, size, range etc

He earns a good salary as a consultant.

The library has a good selection of computer books.

b) a good many/few

informal a large number of people or things

They've known each other for a good many years.

9) not damaged or spoiled in any way and still able to be used or eaten

Do you think the eggs are still good?

a) able to be legally used or officially accepted

good for:

The tickets are good for three weeks.

b) still able to be used for a particular period of time or a particular distance

good for:

I think these trousers are good for another few months.

c) able to be used because of being real and not false

a good £20 note

10)

a) spoken used for saying that you are pleased with someone, or are pleased about something

"They should be here in half an hour." "Good."

Oh, good, you remembered to buy the milk.

b) used when talking about what has been decided or agreed

Good. Then we'll meet at midday in front of the theatre.

11)

a) having a high and respected position in society

He comes from a very good family.

Your accent doesn't make you better than me.

b) expensive, or used by people with a high position in society

We moved to a smaller house in a good area.

12) reliable and likely to earn a lot of money for you

Tony has a good job at the post office.

They made some good investments.

13) giving you a lot of value for something you are buying or selling

Thirty pounds is a good price for jeans.

We got a good deal on our plane tickets.

14) thorough and complete

The witness said she got a good look at his face.

What I need is a good night's sleep.

15) funny or interesting

a good joke/story

16) a ball that is good in a game such as tennis lands inside the area in which the game is played

17) informal more than a particular distance, amount, age etc

We've been waiting for a good half hour.

18) if there is a good chance of something happening, it is likely to happen

There's a good chance of showers tonight.

•

as good a time/place etc as any — informal not an especially good time/place etc to do something, but not worse than any other

I guess now's as good a time as any to tell Dad about the car.

as good as finished/dead etc — almost finished/dead etc or likely to be finished/dead etc very soon

They've as good as admitted it was their fault.

good and ready/warm etc — informal completely ready/warm etc

good boy/girl — used for praising a child or a pet when they have done something correctly

Have you done your homework? Good girl.

someone's good eye/ear/arm/leg etc — one eye/ear/arm/leg etc that someone can still use normally

good for/on someone — used for saying that you are happy about something good that someone has done or that has happened to them

You want to join the army do you? Good for you.

good Heavens/Lord/God/grief/gracious — used for showing that you are very surprised, angry, or upset

Good Heavens, is that the time?

"The doctor says she's got pneumonia." "Good grief!"

it's a good thing/job that — British used for saying that you are pleased that something has happened because it prevents something bad from happening

It's a good thing you called – Mum was starting to get worried.

make good (on) a promise/threat/debt etc — to do or pay what you have said you would

The rebels made good on their promise to release the 370 hostages.

too good to be true/to last — so good that you cannot believe that such a situation is possible or can continue

If you think the deal they are offering is too good to be true, it probably is.

would you be so good as/would you be good enough to do something — spoken formal used for asking someone very politely to do something

Would you be good enough to wait in the lobby?

- all in good time

- as good as new

- as good as your word

- be as good as it gets

- be good to go

- a good deal

- good for something

- a good friend

- good old

- have a good thing going

- if you know what's good for you

- make good

- make good something

- not good enough

- that's a good one

- too much of a good thing

See:

give I, onto

II UK [ɡʊd] / US noun [uncountable] ***

1) advantage, or benefit

for the good of someone/something:

Hartman should resign for the good of the party.

for someone's own good:

I'm only punishing you for your own good.

do someone good:

I think a trip to the beach would do us all a lot of good.

the common/general good (= benefit for everyone in society or in a group):

The country's natural resources should be used for the common good.

2)

a) morally correct behaviour

The Internet can be a force for good by helping to spread knowledge.

good and evil:

the battle between good and evil

b) the good people who behave in a morally correct way

3) the pleasant part or aspects of something

When you're bringing up kids, you have to take the good with the bad.

•

£10/£20/£100 etc to the good — having £10/£20/£100 etc more than you had before

be (all) to the good — British producing benefits or advantages in a situation that is not completely satisfactory

If more people get to hear about our work, then that's all to the good.

too clever/nice/generous etc for your own good — so clever/nice/generous etc that it is a disadvantage instead of an advantage

Alex is a little bit too clever for his own good.

what's the good of/what good is (it) (doing) something? — spoken used for saying that you do not think something will give you any benefit

What's the good of writing them a letter? They never read them anyway.

- do no good

- for good

- no good

- up to no good

See:

goods

III UK [ɡʊd] / US adverb
Word forms "good":
comparative better superlative best mainly American spoken

a way of saying "well" that many people think is not correct

He's doing pretty good at his new job.