heal

verb \ ˈhēl \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: heal in a Sentence

Definition of heal

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.

See heal defined for English-language learners

See heal defined for kids

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 of heal from the Web

The lack of a Spanish far-right like the kind that swept into power in Italy and Hungary, and made inroads in Germany, has perhaps eased the pressure to heal wounds of the devastating war.

— joseph zeballos-roig, The New Republic, "How to Dig Up a Dictator," 11 July 2018
First held in 1980 to heal community wounds inflicted by the killing of a grocery store owner and two teenagers, Youth Day promotes camaraderie and fun via activities devoted to healthful living, education and sports.

— greg crawford, Detroit Free Press, "Plan your weekend: Rib Fest; magic of David Blaine; art in Ferndale, Wyandotte," 5 July 2018
In some ways, its true subject isn’t nature or nurture but the simple reality of time and its refusal to heal all wounds.

— justin chang, latimes.com, "'Three Identical Strangers' is a riveting account of identical triplets separated at birth," 28 June 2018
Time may not heal all wounds for Rockets fans, but maybe some Korean pork barbecue ribs can soothe a grudge.

— justin phillips, SFChronicle.com, "Why it doesn’t matter that Yelp trolls are slamming Ayesha Curry’s new Houston restaurant," 20 June 2018
Time is supposed to heal wounds, but for many Grenfell survivors and victims' relatives, the anniversary is a reminder of just how little has been put right over the past year.

— sarah tilotta, CNN, "'I am broken': A year on and still no justice for Grenfell fire victims," 13 June 2018
Abrams’ victory not only puts Georgia on the map but heals an unnecessary and overblown wound in the Democratic Party, just in time for what might be a nation-changing, midterm election.

— jason johnson, The Root, "Stacey Abrams Wins Big in Georgia and Now Has a Shot at Becoming 1st African-American Female Governor in U.S. History," 23 May 2018
There's power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.

— lyndsey matthews, Harper's BAZAAR, "Reverend Michael Curry Electrified the Royal Wedding With a Moving Sermon," 19 May 2018
And that not everyone gets the opportunity to make amends and heal those wounds.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "What happens when the bully apologizes 60 years later and the story goes public? 'Amazing grace.'," 19 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of heal

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

heal Synonyms

Synonyms

cure, fix, mend, rehabilitate, set up;

Near Antonyms

cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound;

afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken;

fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive;

alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair;

HEAL Defined for English Language Learners

heal

verb

Definition of heal for English Language Learners

: to become healthy or well again
: to make (someone or something) healthy or well again

HEAL Defined for Kids

heal

verb \ ˈhēl \

Definition of heal for Students

healed; healing

: to make or become healthy or well again

The cut healed slowly.

—

healer

noun

Medical Dictionary

heal

transitive verb \ ˈhē(ə)l \

medical Definition of heal

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

play \ˈhē-lər\ noun

Learn More about heal

See words that rhyme with heal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for heal Spanish Central: Translation of heal Nglish: Translation of heal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of heal for Arabic speakers

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heal

Definition of heal

Examples of heal in a Sentence

Recent Examples of heal from the Web

Origin and Etymology of heal

heal Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to HEAL

Related Phrases

HEAL Defined for English Language Learners

heal

Definition of heal for English Language Learners

HEAL Defined for Kids

heal

Definition of heal for Students

healer

Medical Dictionary

heal

medical Definition of heal

healer

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