heal

verb

ˈhēl 

healed; healing; heals

transitive verb

1

a

: to make free from injury or disease : to make sound or whole

heal a wound

b

: to make well again : to restore to health

heal the sick

2

a

: to cause (an undesirable condition) to be overcome : mend

the troubles … had not been forgotten, but they had been healed

—William Power

b

: to patch up or correct (a breach or division)

heal a breach between friends

3

: to restore to original purity or integrity

healed of sin

intransitive verb

: to become free from injury or disease : to return to a sound state

The cut has already healed.

Synonyms

• cure
• fix
• mend
• rehab
• rehabilitate
• set up

Examples of heal in a Sentence

You've got to give the injury time to heal.

After the divorce, he needed some time to heal.

The ointment will help heal the wound.

Recent Examples on the Web

The main character, Anyanwu, is an African woman who can heal, shapeshift and seemingly live forever. —Anita Kopacz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

With all these somatic therapies, the goal is to bring awareness to the sensations that stress or trauma are producing, and ultimately, for the person to feel safer in their body and heal. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 9 Dec. 2024

Influencers on the social media platform have been pushing beef tallow as a facial moisturizer and a way of healing your skin and reducing acne. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Watch the video above to learn how to heal dry and chapped lips. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English helen, from Old English hǣlan; akin to Old High German heilen to heal, Old English hāl whole — more at whole

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing heal

• heal the rift/breach
• self-heal

Kids Definition

heal

verb

ˈhē(ə)l 

: to make or become healthy or whole

heal the sick

a cut that heals slowly

Medical Definition

heal

transitive verb

ˈhē(ə)l 

1

: to make sound or whole especially in bodily condition

2

: to cure of disease or disorder

heal injured tissues

intransitive verb

1

: to return to a sound state

the wound heals

2

: to effect a cure

healer

ˈhē-lər 

noun