healing

American  

[hee-ling] / ˈhi lɪŋ /

adjective

1. curing or curative; prescribed or helping to heal.

2. growing sound; getting well; mending.

---

noun

1. the act or process of regaining health.

   a new drug to accelerate healing.

Other Word Forms

• healingly
  adverb
• self-healing
  adjective
• unhealing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of healing

First recorded before 1000; Middle English heelyng (adjective), helynge (noun); Old English hǣlinge (noun); equivalent to heal + -ing ² for the adjective, heal + -ing ¹ for the noun

Example Sentences

Previously, her lawyer has said that she wants to eventually speak out about her victimisation and help other survivors, but is currently "working on her healing".

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Ignoring those, they said, “stifles that debate and our ability to move forward as a nation,” and impedes healing.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

She conveys the healing value, in a broken world, of solitary communion with nature.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

So this one was about some of the things that older women are facing: aloneness and loneliness and friendship and loss and family and healing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

One morning, when his dressing was being changed, Garfield asked Dr. Woodward how the wound was healing.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow