well off
well off — adjective
1. having enough money to live at a comfortable level or to own expensive things
having enough money to live at a comfortable level or to own expensive things
The Watanabe family is well off, with enough savings to send all three children to university.
be well off + enough to [do something]
Diego grew up in a well-off neighbourhood where most houses had swimming pools.
well-off as attributive adjective before a noun
Charlotte's grandparents were not well off, but she worked hard and became a successful architect.
Piotr comes from a well-off family, but he never acts like he is better than anyone else.
The new hospital was built in one of the least well-off areas of the city.
- wealthy
stronger than 'well off'; suggests great or inherited riches
- affluent
more formal; often describes communities or areas
- prosperous
focuses on economic success and thriving business
文法句型
be well off
用法筆記
Frequently used in comparative and superlative forms: better off, best off; worse off.
常見錯誤
2. having a large enough supply of something that is needed or wanted
having a large enough supply of something that is needed or wanted
Our office is well off for computers, with at least one machine per desk.
be well off for [item]
The school is well off for musical instruments because of a generous donation last year.
Are we well off for food and water supplies for the hiking trip this weekend?
This library is well off for historical documents from the 18th century.
- well supplied
more literal, less idiomatic
- well stocked
suggests a deliberate act of storing
- rich in
more formal; works with abstract and concrete nouns
文法句型
be well off for [resource]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the resource in question. Common in British English, less so in American English.
常見錯誤
3. experiencing a quality of life that others may not share, especially when compar
experiencing a quality of life that others may not share, especially when compared to less fortunate people
Indra knows she is well off compared to people who lost their homes in the flood.
well off compared to [others]
Students in this school are well off — every classroom has air conditioning and a computer.
Considering the state of the economy, we are well off to both have steady jobs.
Hugo felt well off living near the beach, with the sea breeze every evening.
- fortunate
standard synonym, wider scope
- lucky
more informal, often suggests chance rather than circumstance
- privileged
implies an unearned advantage
- unfortunate
direct opposite in the circumstantial sense
- badly off
less common, opposite in 'general situation' sense
文法句型
be well off
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (RICH): this sense does not imply wealth, only favourable circumstances. Often followed by 'compared to/with' or an infinitive clause explaining the good fortune.
常見錯誤
well off — noun
1. people who have a lot of money and live in comfort, considered as a group
people who have a lot of money and live in comfort, considered as a group
The new tax plan mainly helps the well-off, while doing little for low-income families.
the well-off as a collective noun group
Brandon argued that the well-off should pay a higher share of taxes to support public services.
Many luxury shops in the city centre cater only to the well-off.
The gap between the well-off and the poor has widened in recent years.
Amelia pointed out that not all the well-off inherited their money — some earned it through hard work.
- the rich
more common and direct synonym
- the wealthy
slightly more formal, suggests greater wealth
- the affluent
formal, often used in journalism and sociology
文法句型
the well-off
用法筆記
Always takes a plural verb in British and American English because it refers to a group of people. Never used in singular form (❌ 'a well-off').