: having more than adequate financial resources : prosperous
a well-to-do family

Examples of well-to-do in a Sentence

a doctor who is now quite well-to-do as a result of his successful medical practice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With her hands clasped to the sides of her face, the well-to-do woman is said to have demonstrated her request by lifting the corners of her mouth and cheeks. Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025 Meant to accompany the well-to-do traveler, the Overseas debuted in 1996 in stainless steel or solid gold. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025 Han also plays Lee Min-ho’s well-to-do fiancée in When The Stars Gossip, a space drama was actually filmed two years ago. Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 The family was well-to-do, and Hantman went to school in Havana, learning English, German, French and Italian. Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for well-to-do

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-to-do was in 1794

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Well-to-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-to-do. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

well-to-do

adjective
ˌwel-tə-ˈdü
: having plenty of money and possessions : prosperous

More from Merriam-Webster on well-to-do

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