WordGarden.ioheal
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈiːl/
US
- /ˈhil/
Meanings
Verb
to become healthy again, or make a wound or illness better
to recover emotionally after pain, loss, or trauma, or help someone do so
to repair or restore a damaged relationship, division, or social situation
More meaningsFewer meanings
to restore spiritual wholeness or be restored through spiritual or religious practice
Beyond the definition
To heal means to become healthy again after an injury, an illness, or emotional pain. It is not only about cuts and broken bones. Feelings can heal too. A scraped knee may need time and care, and a sad heart may slowly get better with support, rest, and understanding. You might say a doctor helps people heal, or that time, peace, and kindness can be healing. It often takes a while, but it moves someone or something back toward wholeness.
The word "heal" describes the process of becoming healthy again after an injury, an illness, or emotional pain. It is more than simply making the pain stop. It suggests repair, recovery, and a return to a more whole and healthy state. For example, you might say, "After weeks in a cast, her broken arm finally began to heal," or "Time can heal deep pain."
Healing can be physical, referring to the body's natural ability to repair itself. A cut may heal with rest, a bandage, and time, while a more serious injury may need medical care.
But "heal" is not limited to the body. Emotional healing is about slowly recovering from painful experiences such as grief, loss, betrayal, or shock. It often involves feeling those emotions, getting support, and finding a way to move forward. You might say, "She needed time to heal after the breakup," or "Therapy helped him heal from childhood trauma."
The word can also be used in a wider, metaphorical way. A family, a friendship, or a community damaged by conflict may need time to heal. In this sense, it means repairing what has been hurt and restoring peace or trust.
So whether it is a scraped knee, a broken heart, or a divided community, to heal is to recover, grow stronger, and move toward wholeness again. It is a gradual process of repair and renewal.
Examples
- 1
Physical injury
The cut on his hand took two weeks to heal.
- 2
Recovery process
Her ankle is healing slowly after the fall.
- 3
Skin care
This cream can help heal dry, cracked skin.
- 4
Emotional loss
It took him a long time to heal from the loss of his father.
- Patternheal from + loss/pain
recover emotionally after it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Divorce recovery
She moved to a quieter place to heal after the divorce.
- 6
Community recovery
The town is still healing after the wildfire.
- 7
Public scandal
Both sides will need time to heal the damage caused by the scandal.
- Patternheal + damage/relationship
make a painful situation or relationship better
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- healverb
Forms
- healing-ing formverb
- healedpast tenseverb
- healsverb