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

Had the specialist felt that Okonkwo’s injury was not healing after the cast was taken off on Wednesday night, Wrexham would have had to move into the loan market in January. —Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024

Experiments like these expose the potential hidden across our natural world to heal and rejuvenate itself in the face of growing climate change concerns. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Scrapes take longer to heal A lack of vitamin C slows down collagen production—and, in turn, wound healing. —Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024

Recovery From Injury: How to Support Rehabilitation Recovery from a hyperextension injury typically starts with the RICE method, which stands for: Rest allows damaged tissues to heal and prevents exacerbating an existing injury. —Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 19 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