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2 good

Function:

noun

Inflected forms:

plural goods

Meaning:

1 a [noncount] : morally good forces or influences the battle of good versus evil Teachers can be a strong force for good. the difference between good and bad b [count] : something that is right or good They had to sacrifice lesser goods for greater ones. What is life's highest/greatest good?
2 the good a [singular] : the pleasant things that happen to people You have to take the good with the bad. [=you have to accept both the good things and the bad things that happen to you] b [singular] : things that are morally proper or correct Parents must teach their children the difference between the good and the bad. c [plural] : morally good people She believes that the good go to heaven when they die and the bad go to hell. Only the good die young.
3 [noncount] : the part of someone that is kind, honest, generous, helpful, etc. They cherished the good [=goodness] in him, overlooking the bad. She believes there is some good in everyone.
4 [noncount] a : something that helps someone or something to be better, stronger, etc. She did it for the good of the community. [=to help the community] citizens working together for the common/public good [=to help or benefit everyone] I know you don't want to do this, but it's for your own good. [=it will make you stronger, better, etc.] They talk too much for their own good. [=they hurt themselves by talking too much] b : a useful or favorable result What good can possibly come of that? No good came of our efforts. = Our efforts came to no good. [=our efforts did not produce a good or useful result]see also no good (below)
5 goods [plural] a : products that are made or grown in order to be sold : things for sale The store sells a variety of goods. baked/canned goods leather/paper goods perishable goods such as milk, eggs, and produce He's accused of selling stolen goods. goods and services a store that sells sporting goods [=products that are used for playing sports]see also damaged goods, dry goods, durable goods, white goods b : things that are owned by a person He sold all of his worldly goods. [=all of his possessions] c Brit : products carried by trains, trucks, etc. : freightused before another noun a goods lorrysee also goods train
be any good
: to be useful or helpful Would an apology be any good? [=any use]
deliver the goods or chiefly Brit come up with the goods
informal : to produce the desired or promised results : to do what is wanted or expected We knew we could count on him to deliver the goods. [=get the job done]
do good
1 : to do kind or helpful things : to do things that help other people She tried to make the community better by doing good. She has done a lot of good in the community.see also do-gooder
2 a : to be useful or helpful —used with any, much, some, etc. I tried to convince him to change his mind, but it didn't do any good. [=I was unable to convince him] He's been exercising more and it seems to be doing some good. You can try, but it probably won't do much good. It might do a little good. b : to be useful to or helpful for someone or something You should exercise more. It might do you (some) good. Weeding regularly will do your garden good. [=will improve your garden] The visit with her grandchildren did her a world/lot of good. = (Brit) The visit with her grandchildren did her a power of good. [=it was very good for her; it made her feel much better and happier] If you do not think that something is helpful, useful, or worth doing, you can ask What good does it do?, What good is it?, What's the good of it?, etc. What good does it to do to bring an umbrella along [=why bring an umbrella along] if you are only going to leave it in the car? What good is a college education when you can't get a job after you graduate? What's the good of working hard if your boss doesn't give you any credit for it? I could try talking to him, but what good would that do/be? He has already made up his mind.
for good also for good and all
: forever When is she coming back? She's not coming back. She's gone for good.
have/get the goods on
informal To have/get the goods on someone is to have/get evidence showing that someone has done something wrong. We can't arrest her until we get the goods on her.
in good with
US informal : in a favored position with (someone) She's in good with the boss. [=the boss likes her]
it's an ill wind that blows no goodsee 1ill
no good or not any good
: not effective or useful I tried to convince him to change his mind, but it was no good, he wouldn't listen to me. It's no good [=no use] talking to him. = It isn't any good talking to him.see also be any good (above)
not much good
: not very effective or useful I tried to convince him to change his mind, but it wasn't much good.
to the good
1used to say that a particular result or effect is good or would be goodusually used after all If the new policy requires the government to keep more accurate records, that's all to the good. [=that's a good thing; that's desirable]
2used to indicate an amount of gain or profit In the end, we were $100 to the good. [=we gained $100]
up to no good
informal : doing bad things or planning to do bad things If you ask me, that woman's up to no good.
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