good

Etymology 1

From Middle English good, from Old English gōd, from Proto-West Germanic *gōd, from Proto-Germanic *gōdaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- (“to unite, be associated, suit”). Cognate with Russian го́дный (gódnyj, “fit, well-suited, good for; (coll.) good”), год (god), "year", via "suitable time". Related to gather and together, but not to god/God. Eclipsed non-native Middle English bon, bone, boon, boun (“good”) borrowed from Old French bon (“good”), from Latin bonus(“good”).

Alternative forms

• goode (obsolete)

Adjective

good (comparative better or (nonstandard, humorous) gooder, superlative best or (nonstandard, humorous) goodest)

1. (of people or animals)
   1. Acting in the interest of what is beneficial, ethical, or moral. [ quotations ▼]

      good intentions

   2. Competent or talented. [ quotations ▼]

      a good swimmer

   3. Able to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; of unimpaired credit; used with for.

      Can you lend me fifty dollars? You know I'm good for it.

   4. Well-behaved (especially of children or animals).

      Be good while your mother and I are out.

      Were you a good boy for the babysitter?

   5. (US) Satisfied or at ease; not requiring more.

      Would you like a glass of water? — I'm good.

      [Are] you good? — Yeah, I'm fine.

      Gimme another beer! — I think you're good.

   6. (colloquial, with with) Accepting of, OK with

      My mother said she's good with me being alone with my date as long as she's met them first.

      The soup is rather spicy. Are you good with that, or would you like something else?

   7. (archaic) Of high rank or birth. [ quotations ▼]
2. (of capabilities)
   1. Useful for a particular purpose; functional. [ quotations ▼]

      it’s a good watch;  the flashlight batteries are still good

   2. Effective. [ quotations ▼]

      a good worker

   3. (obsolete) Real; actual; serious. [ quotations ▼]

      in good sooth

3. (properties and qualities)
   1. (of food)
      1. Having a particularly pleasant taste.

         The food was very good.

      2. Being satisfying; meeting dietary requirements.

         Eat a good dinner so you will be ready for the big game tomorrow.

   2. Of food or other perishable products, still fit for use; not yet expired, stale, rotten, etc.

      The bread is still good.

   3. Valid, of worth, capable of being honoured.

      This coupon is good for a free doughnut.

   4. True, valid, of explanatory strength. [ quotations ▼]

      This theory still holds good even if much higher temperatures are assumed.

   5. Right, proper, as it should be. [ quotations ▼]
   6. Healthful.

      Exercise and a varied diet are good for you.

   7. Pleasant; enjoyable.

      We had a good time.

   8. Favourable. [ quotations ▼]

      a good omen;  good weather

   9. Unblemished; honourable.

      a person's good name

   10. Beneficial; worthwhile.

       a good job

   11. Adequate; sufficient; not fallacious. [ quotations ▼]
4. (colloquial, when with and) Very, extremely. See good and.

   The soup is good and hot.

5. (colloquial) Ready

   I'm good when you are.

   The reports are good to go.

6. Holy (especially when capitalized) .

   Good Friday, Good Wednesday, the Good Book

7. (of quantities)
   1. Reasonable in amount.

      all in good time

   2. Large in amount or size. [ quotations ▼]

      a good while longer;  a good number of seeds;  A good part of his day was spent shopping.  It will be a good while longer until he's done.  He's had a good amount of troubles, he has.

   3. Full; entire; at least as much as. [ quotations ▼]

      This hill will take a good hour and a half to climb.  The car was a good ten miles away.

Usage notes

• The comparative gooder and superlative goodest are nonstandard. In informal (often jocular) contexts, best may be inflected further and given the comparative bester and the superlative bestest; these forms are also nonstandard.

Synonyms

• (having positive attributes): not bad, all right, satisfactory, decent, see also Thesaurus:good
• (healthful): well
• (competent or talented): accomplished
• (acting in the interest of good; ethical): See Thesaurus:goodness

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “having positive attributes”): bad, poor
• (antonym(s) of “ethical”): bad, evil

Etymology 2

From Middle English goode (“good, well”, adverb), from the adjective. Compare Dutch goed (“good, well”, adverb), German gut (“good, well”, adverb), Danish godt (“good, well”, adverb), Swedish godt (“good, well”, adverb), all from the adjective.

Adverb

good (comparative better, superlative best)

1. (nonstandard) Well; satisfactorily or thoroughly. [ quotations ▼]

   The boy done good. (did well)

Derived terms

• but good
• a good many

Etymology 3

From Middle English good, god, from Old English gōd (“a good thing, advantage, benefit, gift; good, goodness, welfare; virtue, ability, doughtiness; goods, property, wealth”), from Proto-Germanic *gōdą (“goods, belongings”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ-, *gʰodʰ- (“to unite, be associated, suit”). Compare German Gut (“item of merchandise; estate; property”).

Noun

good (countable and uncountable, plural goods)

1. (uncountable) The forces or behaviours that are the enemy of evil. Usually consists of helping others and general benevolence. [ quotations ▼] [ antonyms ▲]

   Antonyms: bad, evil

2. (countable) A result that is positive in the view of the speaker. [ antonym ▲]

   Antonym: bad

3. (uncountable) The abstract instantiation of goodness; that which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc. [ quotations ▼]

   The best is the enemy of the good.

   He is an influence for good on those girls.

4. (countable, usually in the plural) An item of merchandise. [ coordinate term ▲][ quotations ▼]

   Coordinate term: service

Derived terms

• (item of merchandise): capital goods, consumer goods

Etymology 4

From Middle English goden, godien, from Old English gōdian (“to improve, get better; make better; endow, enrich”), from Proto-West Germanic *gōdōn (“to make better, improve”), from Proto-Germanic *gōdaz (“good, favourable”).

Verb

good (third-person singular simple present goods, present participle gooding, simple past and past participle gooded)(now chiefly dialectal)

1. (intransitive, now) To thrive; fatten; prosper; improve.
2. (transitive) To make good; turn to good; improve.
3. (intransitive) To make improvements or repairs.
4. (intransitive) To benefit; gain.
5. (transitive) To do good to (someone); benefit; cause to improve or gain.
6. (transitive) To satisfy; indulge; gratify.
7. (reflexive) To flatter; congratulate oneself; anticipate.

Derived terms

• gooding

Etymology 5

From English dialectal, from Middle English *goden, of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish göda (“to fatten, fertilise, battle”), Danish gøde (“to fertilise, battle”), ultimately from the adjective. See above.

Verb

good (third-person singular simple present goods, present participle gooding, simple past and past participle gooded)

1. (transitive, now chiefly dialectal, Scotland) To furnish with dung; manure; fatten with manure; fertilise. [ quotations ▼]

Derived terms

• goodening