good

The word "good" has an obvious meaning as the opposite of "bad," but it has some other very common applications. Many people use it to say they’ve had enough of something:

• A: Do you want any more coffee?
• B: No, I’m good.

This means "I’ve had enough," but use it when someone asks you the question first:

• A: Do you need any more help?
• B: No, I’m good.

• A: Is the boat tied up properly?
• B: Yeah, it’s good.

Sometimes "good" is similar to "okay" and it means that a situation is acceptable:

• We’re ordering a new series of books for the classroom. Are you good with that?

It’s very common to use "good" when someone asks you about your personal welfare in the form of a greeting:

• A: How are you today?
• B: Good. How are you?
• A: Good.

When someone asks questions about the quality of something or the reason for a thing’s existence, the word "good" is often included:

• What good does it do? (Why should I even try?)
• What good is it? (What’s the value of this?)
• How good is it? (What’s the quality of the thing?)
• What’s this good for? (What’s the purpose for this?)

The word "good" is used as a noun to refer to things that people buy:

• You can purchase canned goods at a grocery story.
• The U.S. Commerce Department keeps track of goods and services sold in the United States every year.

This word is also used in some expressions:

• Her new job is good as gold. (very good; having the value of gold.)
• He’s good as dead if he goes to that neighborhood. (He could really die; it’s very dangerous.)
• This job is good as done. (This job is just about over. In my mind, it’s finished.)
• She’s a goodie goodie. (She tries too hard to be good and please other people.)

Continue working on your vocabulary here.

Published November 29, 2011

Updated on December 16, 2018