: 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.
These companies especially targeted young, well-to-do, urban Millennials. Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025 For decades, it’s been a country escape for well-to-do New Yorkers: think Oscar and Annette de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, and Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025 The town had been settled beginning in the 1870’s by many well-to-do families coming from Indiana (The Indiana Colony) and soon thereafter wealthy easterners via the railroad drawn to the climate. Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 The brand has been able to sell high-price point showpieces, over $1,000, in big quantities thanks to its distinctive aesthetic, which has attracted a dedicated following with fashion influencers, well-to-do career women and yummy mummies in the mix. Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 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

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Cite this Entry

“Well-to-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-to-do. Accessed 30 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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