heal

[ heel ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.

   Antonyms: irritate

2. to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile:

   They tried to heal the rift between them but were unsuccessful.

   Synonyms: soothe, compose

   Antonyms: irritate

3. to free from evil; cleanse; purify:

   to heal the soul.

   Synonyms: disinfect, purge

   Antonyms: infect, soil

verb (used without object)

1. to effect a cure.
2. (of a wound, broken bone, etc.) to become whole or sound; mend; get well (often followed by up or over ).

noun

1. (in a video game) a category of spell that restores the health of a player character:

   I thought the party was gonna wipe, but a clutch heal saved our Monk and he finished off the boss alone.

heal

/ hiːl /

verb

1. to restore or be restored to health
2. intr; often foll by over or up (of a wound, burn, etc) to repair by natural processes, as by scar formation
3. tr
   1. to treat (a wound, etc) by assisting in its natural repair
   2. to cure (a disease or disorder)
4. to restore or be restored to friendly relations, harmony, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈhealer, noun
• ˈhealing, nounadjective
• ˈhealable, adjective

Other Words From

• heal·a·ble adjective
• half-healed adjective
• pre·heal verb (used with object)
• un·heal·a·ble adjective
• un·healed adjective
• well-healed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heal¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English helen, Old English hǣlan (cognate with Dutch helen, German heilen, Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan ), derivative of hāl hale ¹, whole

Word History and Origins

Origin of heal¹

Old English hælan; related to Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan, Old High German heilen; see hale ¹, whole

Synonym Study

See cure.

Example Sentences

They haven’t even begun to pull the knife out, much less heal the wound.

From Essence.com

If the injury led to death, the bones would not have healed.

From Science News For Students

We need to do a lot better job listening to what’s going on and how we can be helpful and heal.

From Ozy

While it still may have been possible for Nurkić to return had the 2019-20 season continued apace, the coronavirus-induced suspension of play gave him even more time to heal and work himself back into shape.

From FiveThirtyEight

However, despite the fact the Grizzlies will likely get Justise Winslow back on the floor now that his back injury has had time to heal, FiveThirtyEight is pessimistic about their chances of holding onto their spot.

From FiveThirtyEight

To break her self-destructive cycle and heal, she decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail solo.

From The Daily Beast

We had decided we would make a film together because we both agreed about the importance of art as a way to heal.

From The Daily Beast

Heal STL was destroyed, as were several other shops and offices contained in the building that went up in smoke Monday night.

From The Daily Beast

Then Heal STL was burned down Monday like a moribund body for cremation.

From The Daily Beast

A bunch of old, white, rock titans come together with young, white, X Factor hotties to persuade Britain to heal Africa.

From The Daily Beast

One day as Mrs. Worthington stood beside her child she felt that God wanted to heal her.

From Project Gutenberg

He sat stunned before the amazing revelation of how little time and distance had done to heal his hurt.

From Project Gutenberg

Rest in our quiet family affection will soon heal you of this fever, for it is nothing else.

From Project Gutenberg

Enter my service, and you shall be rich and happy; my favors shall heal those wounded limbs.

From Project Gutenberg

Those are happiest whose wounds heal soonest,—to whom a life-time grief is unknown.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alleviate
• fix
• improve
• mend
• rebuild
• reconcile
• regenerate
• rehabilitate
• rejuvenate
• repair
• restore
• revive
• settle
• soothe
• treat