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 of heal

• rehabilitate
• cure
• fix
• treat

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

Two behavioral health experts who lead Voices for Georgia’s Children say that money should go toward protecting and healing children in mental health distress. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Make cuts across the stems then let cuttings heal their wounds in an open, airy spot with shade for about a week. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Before the wounds of 2022 had healed, another nationwide protest movement erupted this past January. — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Judaism sees sin as a rupture that can be healed, not an inherent condition. — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for heal

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heel
• keel
• kneel

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