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heal

/hil/
/hil/
IPA guide

Other forms: healed; heals

To heal is to recover or become healthy again. You'll need to wait until your blisters heal before you put your hiking boots back on and climb Mt. Everest.

They say time can heal, or cure, a broken heart, while you can be sure that rest, an ice pack, and propping your foot up will heal your twisted ankle. The Proto-Germanic word khailaz, which means "to make whole" is the root of both heal and the closely related word health. Don't confuse heal with heel, which is the back part of your foot or the command that makes a dog stop.

Definitions of heal
  1. verb
    heal or recover
    synonyms: mend
  2. verb
    get healthy again
    “The wound is healing slowly”
    see moresee less
    types:
    scab
    form a scab
    skin over
    grow new skin over an injury
    granulate
    form granulating tissue
    type of:
  3. verb
    provide a cure for, make healthy again
    “The quack pretended to heal patients but never managed to”
    synonyms: bring around, cure
    see moresee less
    types:
    recuperate
    restore to good health or strength
    type of:
    aid, help
    improve the condition of
Pronunciation
US
/hil/
UK
/hil/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘heal'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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