Good
adj.kind, capableeveryday
Meaning 1
Producing a welcome, useful, or satisfying result.
Reach for it when giving broad positive approval to a thing, plan, experience, or outcome
A good explanation tells readers what to do next.
Choose between these
3- warm
the positive judgment comes from pleasure
not when Enjoyable says nothing about usefulness, ethics, or craftsmanship.
- professional
evidence shows a positive effect
not when Beneficial can be useful without being enjoyable or well made.
- professional
quality clearly rises above ordinary approval
not when Do not inflate a merely satisfactory result into excellence.
Meaning 2
Skilled or effective at a particular activity.
Reach for it when praising demonstrated ability without claiming exceptional mastery
He is good at translating technical warnings into plain language.
Choose between these
3- warm
natural aptitude is what impressed you
not when Talent should not replace praise for learned discipline without evidence.
- professional
reliable ability matters more than flair
not when Capable can indicate potential even before strong performance is shown.
- professional
training and execution justify the praise
not when Skilled is narrower than being generally good at a role.
Meaning 3
Kind, honorable, or morally responsible in conduct.
Reach for it when describing character or an action guided by care and sound principles
A good neighbor returned the lost wallet without opening it.
Choose between these
3- everyday
basic humane character deserves understated approval
not when Decent can sound faint or grudging in a tribute.
- warm
care for other people is the moral quality you mean
not when Kind is too narrow if the praise concerns honesty or courage.
- formal
consistent moral standards guide difficult choices
not when A principled person can be stern and is not automatically benevolent.
Said against
4- bad
- poor
- unskilled
- wicked
It naturally appears in
3- good result
A good result would reopen two classrooms before September.
- good at
She is good at noticing when quieter participants want to speak.
- good person
A good person can admit harm and make a practical repair.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: beneficial, satisfactory, or high quality opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: competent or proficient opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English adjective moral sense: virtuous or kind opens in a new tab for meaning 3 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.