U

good for

adjective, bet·ter, best.

morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious: a good man.
satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree: a good teacher; good health.
of high quality; excellent.
right; proper; fit: It is good that you are here. His credentials are good.
well-behaved: a good child.
kind, beneficent, or friendly: to do a good deed.
honorable or worthy; in good standing: a good name.
educated and refined: She has a good background.
financially sound or safe: His credit is good.
genuine; not counterfeit: a good quarter.
sound or valid: good judgment; good reasons.
reliable; dependable; responsible: good advice.
healthful; beneficial: Fresh fruit is good for you.
in excellent condition; healthy: good teeth.
not spoiled or tainted; edible; palatable: The meat was still good after three months in the freezer.
favorable; propitious: good news.
cheerful; optimistic; amiable: in good spirits.
free of distress or pain; comfortable: to feel good after surgery.
agreeable; pleasant: Have a good time.
attractive; handsome: She has a good figure.
(of the complexion) smooth; free from blemish.
close or intimate; warm: She’s a good friend of mine.
sufficient or ample: a good supply.
advantageous; satisfactory for the purpose: a good day for fishing.
competent or skillful; clever: a good manager; good at arithmetic.
skillfully or expertly done: a really good job; a good play.
conforming to rules of grammar, usage, etc.; correct: good English.
socially proper: good manners.
remaining available to one: Don’t throw good money after bad.
comparatively new or of relatively fine quality: Don’t play in the mud in your good clothes.
finest or most dressy: He wore his good suit to the office today.
full: a good day’s journey away.
fairly large or great: a good amount.
free from precipitation or cloudiness: good weather.
Medicine/Medical. (of a patient’s condition) having stable and normal vital signs, being conscious and comfortable, and having excellent appetite, mobility, etc.
fertile; rich: good soil.
loyal: a good Democrat.
(of a return or service in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) landing within the limits of a court or section of a court.
Informal. (used when declining an offer or suggestion, as to communicate that one is already satisfied): “More coffee?” “No thanks, I’m good!”
Horse Racing. (of the surface of a track) drying after a rain so as to be still slightly sticky: This horse runs best on a good track.
(of meat, especially beef) noting or pertaining to the specific grade below “choice,” containing more lean muscle and less edible fat than “prime” or “choice.”
favorably regarded (used as an epithet for a ship, town, etc.): the good ship Syrena.

noun

profit or advantage; worth; benefit: What good will that do? We shall work for the common good.
excellence or merit; kindness: to do good.
moral righteousness; virtue: to be a power for good.
(especially in the grading of U.S. beef) an official grade below that of “choice.”
goods,
1. possessions, especially movable effects or personal property.
2. articles of trade; wares; merchandise: canned goods.
3. Informal.what has been promised or is expected: to deliver the goods.
4. Informal.the genuine article.
5. Informal.evidence of guilt, as stolen articles: to catch someone with the goods.
6. cloth or textile material: top-quality linen goods.
7. Chiefly British.merchandise sent by land, rather than by water or air.
the good,
1. the ideal of goodness or morality.
2. good things or persons collectively.

interjection

(used as an expression of approval or satisfaction): Good! Now we can all go home.

adverb

Informal. well¹(defs 1–3, 8): I wish I could cook this good! Yes, we knew him pretty good.

Idioms

as good as. as¹(def 20).
come to no good, to end in failure or as a failure: Her jealous relatives said that she would come to no good.
for good, finally and permanently; forever: to leave the country for good.Also for good and all.
good and, Informal. very; completely; exceedingly: This soup is good and hot.
good for,
1. certain to repay (money owed) because of integrity, financial stability, etc.
2. the equivalent in value of: Two thousand stamps are good for one coffeepot.
3. able to survive or continue functioning for (the length of time or the distance indicated): These tires are good for another 10,000 miles.
4. valid or in effect for (the length of time indicated): a license good for one year.
5. (used as an expression of approval): Good for you!
good full, Nautical. (of a sail or sails) well filled, especially when sailing close to the wind; clean full; rap full.
make good,
1. to make recompense for; repay.
2. to implement an agreement; fulfill.
3. to be successful.
4. to substantiate; verify.
5. to carry out; accomplish; execute: The convicts made good their getaway.
no good, without value or merit; worthless; contemptible: The check was no good.
to the good,
1. generally advantageous: That’s all to the good, but what do I get out of it?
2. richer in profit or gain: When he withdrew from the partnership, he was several thousand dollars to the good.

adjective better or best

having admirable, pleasing, superior, or positive qualities; not negative, bad or mediocrea good idea; a good teacher
1. morally excellent or admirable; virtuous; righteousa good man
2. (as collective noun; preceded by the)the good
suitable or efficient for a purposea good secretary; a good winter coat
beneficial or advantageousvegetables are good for you
not ruined or decayed; sound or wholethe meat is still good
kindly, generous, or approvingyou are good to him
right or acceptableyour qualifications are good for the job
rich and fertilegood land
valid or genuineI would not do this without good reason
honourable or held in high esteema good family
commercially or financially secure, sound, or safegood securities; a good investment
(of a draft) drawn for a stated sum
(of debts) expected to be fully paid
clever, competent, or talentedhe’s good at science
obedient or well-behaveda good dog
reliable, safe, or recommendeda good make of clothes
affording material pleasure or indulgencethe good things in life; the good life
having a well-proportioned, beautiful, or generally fine appearancea good figure; a good complexion
complete; fullI took a good look round the house
propitious; opportunea good time to ask the manager for a rise
satisfying or gratifyinga good rest
comfortabledid you have a good night?
newest or of the best qualityto keep the good plates for important guests
fairly large, extensive, or longa good distance away
sufficient; amplewe have a good supply of food
US (of meat) of the third government grade, above standard and below choice
serious or intellectualgood music
used in a traditional descriptionthe good ship “America”
used in polite or patronizing phrases or to express anger (often intended ironically)how is your good lady?; look here, my good man!
a good one
1. an unbelievable assertion
2. a very funny joke
as good as virtually; practicallyit’s as good as finished
as good as gold excellent; very good indeed
be as good as to or be so good as to would you please
come good to recover and perform well after a bad start or setback
good and informal (intensifier)good and mad
(intensifier; used in mild oaths)good grief!; good heavens!

interjection

an exclamation of approval, agreement, pleasure, etc

noun

moral or material advantage or use; benefit or profitfor the good of our workers; what is the good of worrying?
positive moral qualities; goodness; virtue; righteousness; piety
(sometimes capital) moral qualities seen as a single abstract entitywe must pursue the Good
a good thing
economics a commodity or service that satisfies a human need
for good or for good and all forever; permanentlyI have left them for good
make good
1. to recompense or repair damage or injury
2. to be successful
3. to demonstrate or prove the truth of (a statement or accusation)
4. to secure and retain (a position)
5. to effect or fulfil (something intended or promised)
good on you or good for you well done, well said, etc: a term of congratulation
get any good of or get some good of Irish
1. to handle to good effectI never got any good of this machine
2. to understand properlyI could never get any good of him
3. to receive cooperation from

Old English gōd “that which is good, goodness; advantage, benefit; gift; virtue; property;” from good (adj.).

adj.

Old English god (with a long “o”) “virtuous; desirable; valid; considerable,” probably originally “having the right or desirable quality,” from Proto-Germanic *gothaz (cf. Old Norse goðr, Dutch goed, Old High German guot, German gut, Gothic goþs), originally “fit, adequate, belonging together,” from PIE root *ghedh- “to unite, be associated, suitable” (cf. Old Church Slavonic godu “pleasing time,” Russian godnyi “fit, suitable,” Old English gædrian “to gather, to take up together”). As an expression of satisfaction, from early 15c.; of children, “well-behaved,” by 1690s.

Irregular comparatives (better, best) reflect a widespread pattern, cf. Latin bonus, melior, optimus. Good-for-nothing is from 1711. Good looking is attested from 1780 (good looks by c.1800). Good sport, of persons, is from 1906; good to go is attested from 1989. The good book “the Bible” attested from 1801, originally in missionary literature describing the language of conversion efforts in American Indian tribes.

Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing. [“As You Like It”]

Beneficial to, as in Milk is good for children. [Tenth century a.d.]

Financially reliable, able to pay or repay, as in They know he’s good for a big tip. [Mid-1800s]

Able to serve or continue to function, as in This furniture’s good for at least ten more years, or I hope you’re not tired—I’m good for another three miles or so. [Mid-1800s]

Equivalent in value; also, valid for. For example, These coupons are good for a 20 percent discount, or This contract is good for the entire life of the book. [Second half of 1800s]

good for someone. An expression of approval, as in Good for Bill—he’s sold the car, or Good for you! You passed the exam. This usage differs from the others in that orally a slight emphasis is placed on you or whoever is being mentioned. [Mid-1800s]

In addition to the idioms beginning with good

good and
good around
good as, as
good as done, as
good as gold, as
good as one’s word, as
good day
good deal, a
good egg, a
good evening
good faith
good for
good graces
good grief
good head on one’s shoulders, have a
good life, the
good luck
good many, a
good mind
good morning
good nature
goodness gracious
goodness knows
good night
good off
good riddance
good Samaritan
good scout
good sort
good thing
good time
good turn
good word
good works
goody two-shoes

also see:

bad (good) sort
but good
do any good
do good
do one good
for good
for good measure
get on someone’s good side
get out while the getting is good
give a good account of oneself
give as good as one gets
have a good command of
have a good mind to
have a good thing going
have a good time
hold good
ill wind (that blows nobody any good)
in all good conscience
in bad (good) faith
in (good) condition
in due course (all in good time)
in good
in good hands
in good part
in good spirits
in good time
in good with
in someone’s good graces
keep (good) time
make good
make good time
make someone look good
miss is as good as a mile
never had it so good
no good
no news is good news
not the only fish (other good fish) in the sea
one good turn deserves another
on good terms
on one’s best (good) behavior
put in a good word
put to good use
show someone a good time
show to (good) advantage
so far so good
stand in good stead
take in good part
throw good money after bad
to good purpose
too good to be true
too much of a good thing
to the good
turn to (good account)
up to no good
well and good
what’s the good of
with good grace
world of good
your guess is as good as mine

Also see undergoodnessgoods.