heal
HEEL
Heal (verb) means to make well again after illness or injury; to recover. Example: “Rest and clean bandages will help your broken skin heal quickly.”
verb
1
To make well again after illness or injury; to recover.
"Rest and clean bandages will help your broken skin heal quickly."
"The wound took two weeks to heal completely."
"Time helped heal the grief they felt after the loss."
2
To repair a rift or resolve a conflict between people.
"A sincere apology can help heal the damage between old friends."
"The new manager worked hard to heal the divisions within the team."
"The two brothers finally healed their long-standing feud."
How to use heal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo get better, or to make something (a wound, a rift) better.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with heel (the back of the foot) or heal used as a noun in some games — as a standard verb it always means "to cure/recover."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
heal a wound
time will heal
heal old wounds
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Word forms
- Plural
- heals
- Third person singular
- heals
- Past tense
- healed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rest and clean bandages will help your broken skin _____ quickly.
Etymology
From Old English hǣlan, related to the word whole — to heal originally meant "to make whole again."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for heal
See all rhymes for heal →Frequently asked questions
What does “heal” mean?
The word “heal” means to make well again after illness or injury; to recover. In plain terms, to get better, or to make something (a wound, a rift) better.
How do you pronounce “heal”?
“Heal” is pronounced HEEL (/ˈhiːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “heal” in a sentence?
Here is “heal” used in a sentence: “The wound took two weeks to heal completely.”
What is another word for “heal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “heal” include cure and make whole.
What part of speech is “heal”?
“Heal” is a verb.
Where does the word “heal” come from?
The word “heal” comes from Old English. From Old English hǣlan, related to the word whole — to heal originally meant "to make whole again.".
Is “heal” a common word?
“Heal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “heal” have?
“Heal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make well again after illness or injury; to recover.
What is the difference between heal and cure?
To heal is to become well again as the body naturally recovers from illness or injury. To cure is to remove a disease entirely, often through medical treatment, so a wound heals while an illness is cured.
What is the difference between heal and heel?
Heal and heel sound alike but are unrelated. Heal is a verb meaning to make well again or recover, while heel is a noun for the back part of the foot.
What is the difference between heal and treat?
To treat is to apply care or medicine in an attempt to help someone get better. To heal is the actual process of the body mending or the injury closing, which may follow treatment.
Can you heal a relationship as well as a wound?
Yes. Besides recovering from illness or injury, heal can mean to repair a rift or resolve a conflict between people, as in healing a friendship or healing old wounds between two groups.
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