almost well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost well" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being that is close to being well, but not quite there, often in the context of health or emotional state. Example: "After a week of rest, I feel almost well, but I'm still not ready to return to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Behind the wheel, he looks almost well.

The New Yorker

"Independent" members of parliament are suddenly becoming almost, well, independent.

The Economist

Then something changed that made shopping for a car almost, well, fun, like shopping is supposed to be.

The New York Times - Tech

When GQ asked him to write an essay on Obama and rhetoric, he felt almost well enough to do it.

The New Yorker

One night, when he is almost well again, he sneaks out to look at the snow house.

The New Yorker

From my window, buildings under twenty inches of snow could almost — well, almost — pass for a streetscape from Diedrich Knickerbocker's day.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

There was silence as the match ended, but then the Dutch applauded their team for a job almost well-enough done.

The New York Times

This was reality twisted out of all truth, in which Joffrey appeared largely heroic and Cersei almost well-meaning while Ned was a fool and Robert a drunk and Tyrion the biggest monster of all.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I almost welled up.

The New York Times

The almost well-behaved quasi-Landau levels exhibit high-intensity peaks with specific selection rules, and the distorted energy subbands present numerous low-intensity peaks without any selection rules.

Carbon

We also added a new aspect, namely by also including the case where the processor (i.e., the human brain) encounters an "almost" well-defined structure, which is tantamount to error detection during interpretation.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost well" to indicate a state that is close to complete recovery or normalcy, but not fully there yet. For example, "After a week of rest, I feel "almost well" but not ready to return to work".

Common error

Avoid using "almost well" when the subject is fully recovered. "Almost" implies a degree of incompleteness or lingering symptoms. If someone is fully recovered, state it directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost well" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something is 'well'. It indicates a state close to complete wellness but not fully achieved. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost well" is a useful expression for describing a state that is close to being fully recovered or in good condition, according to Ludwig. It functions as an adverbial modifier and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct and versatile, it's important to use "almost well" accurately, ensuring that it reflects a genuine state of partial recovery rather than a complete one. Ludwig also highlights that synonyms like "nearly healthy" or "on the mend" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly healthy

Focuses more directly on the state of health being close to perfect.

close to recovery

Emphasizes the process of regaining health rather than the current state.

practically recovered

Highlights the completeness of the recovery, suggesting only minor issues remain.

virtually healed

Suggests that the healing process is nearly complete, with minimal signs of illness.

on the mend

An idiomatic expression indicating improvement in health.

recovering steadily

Focuses on the continuous improvement in health.

approaching wellness

Emphasizes the movement towards a state of well-being.

nearing full health

Highlights the proximity to a state of complete health.

almost healthy again

Reiterates the return to a previous state of health.

getting back in shape

Describes the process of returning to a good physical condition or health.

FAQs

How can I use "almost well" in a sentence?

You can use "almost well" to describe a state of being close to being healthy or recovered. For example: "After a few days of rest, I feel "almost well", but I still need to take it easy."

What can I say instead of "almost well"?

Alternatives to "almost well" include "nearly healthy", "close to recovery", or "on the mend". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "almost well" or "nearly well"?

Both "almost well" and "nearly well" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations, although "nearly healthy" may sound more formal.

What's the difference between "almost well" and "completely well"?

"Almost well" indicates that someone is in the process of recovering but hasn't fully reached a state of complete health. In contrast, "completely well" signifies a full recovery with no remaining symptoms or issues.