good

Everyday

1. Of high quality, done well: "a good drawing". tree →
2. Kind, right and honest: "a good person". tree →
3. Pleasant or enjoyable: "a good time". tree →
4. Healthy or helpful: "Vegetables are good for you." tree →
5. Behaving well: "Be good." tree →
6. Able to do something well: "good at maths". tree →
7. "Goods" means things that are made and sold. tree →
8. Good morning, good afternoon and good evening are greetings you say when you meet someone. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life "good" praises quality, kindness and behaviour; in stories it often means the hero side (good versus evil). In school: good work, good at a subject. Phrases: good at, good for, good morning, for good (forever), as good as, a good deal, no good, good luck, good job.

Examples

• That was a good game. tree →
• She is good at maths. tree →
• Carrots are good for you. tree →
• Be good while I am out. tree →
• Have a good day! tree →
• He is a good friend. tree →
• The shop sells goods from many countries. tree →
• They moved away for good. tree →
• "Good morning, Little Red-Cap," he said. tree →

Note

Comparison is irregular: good, better, best (not "gooder"). "Good" describes nouns; "well" describes actions: "a good singer sings well". But "I feel good" is fine. "For good" means forever.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, "good" often means what God approves of, as in "God saw that it was good". It also means pleasant, fertile or fair.

Interpretation. Tradition reads "very good" at the end of creation as including even the urge to do wrong, since it drives people to build and achieve. Sefer Yetzirah pairs good with evil as opposites that keep the world in balance.

Examples

• And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. (Torah GEN.41.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou doest is not good. (Torah EXO.18.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good: life for life. (Torah LEV.24.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Shall evil be recompensed for good? (Prophets JER.18.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• Remember me, O my God, for good. (Writings NEH.13.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• This thing is not good that thou hast done. (Prophets 1SA.26.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparison is irregular: good, better, best (not "gooder"). "Good" describes nouns; "well" describes actions: "a good singer sings well". But "I feel good" is fine. "For good" means forever.