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 orover ).

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

Other Word Forms

• healable adjective
• half-healed adjective
• preheal verb (used with object)
• unhealable adjective
• unhealed adjective
• well-healed adjective
• healing noun
• healer noun

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

Recently, he even posted a QAnon claim that he would soon release “med beds,” a mythical technology that fully heals people and apparently restores their youth.

From Salon

Though Smith’s fractured right hand has healed, he is still in the process of rebuilding strength and stamina after missing the last few weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Delila Combs, 18, pleaded: "We can't watch our baby sister grow up fatherless the same way we grew up motherless... Please, please give our family the chance to heal."

From BBC

Last month Labour set out a new plan, agreed with the Irish government, that seeks to heal the rift created by the Conservatives' legislation.

From BBC

But, in a short series, with Philadelphia’s pitching fully rested and its injuries mostly healed, can the Dodgers really pull it off?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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