GOOD WORD

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does good word mean? 

• GOOD WORD (noun)
  The noun GOOD WORD has 2 senses:

1. something that recommends (or expresses commendation of) a person or thing as worthy or desirable

2. good news

  Familiarity information: GOOD WORD used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GOOD WORD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that recommends (or expresses commendation of) a person or thing as worthy or desirable

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

good word; recommendation; testimonial

Hypernyms ("good word" is a kind of...):

congratulations; extolment; kudos; praise (an expression of approval and commendation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "good word"):

character; character reference; reference (a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability)

puff (exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Good news

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("good word" is a kind of...):

intelligence; news; tidings; word (information about recent and important events)

 Context examples 

If I arrive late, you'll say a good word for me, won't you, Beth?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“It is a good word—” I began.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

We relied upon the fact that we could count upon the good word of those whom we had rescued to ensure a warm welcome from their fellows.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thank you for your good word, Fanny, but it is more than I would affirm myself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I shall speak a good word for you to all the young men, you may depend upon it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Doctor, when a man's steering as near the wind as me—playing chuck-farthing with the last breath in his body, like—you wouldn't think it too much, mayhap, to give him one good word?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"And I should have lived a coward forever," declared the Lion, "and no beast in all the forest would have had a good word to say to me."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I should have been sorry, Mr. Knightley, to be dependent on your recommendation, had I quitted Mr. Woodhouse's family and wanted another situation; I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to any body.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I consider him, on the contrary, as a very respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice; who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats every year.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)