heal

heal · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    (transitive) To cause a wound, injury, or person to become healthy again.

  2. 2.

    (intransitive) To become healthy again; to recover from an injury or illness.

  3. 3.

    To resolve or put right a difficult situation or emotional pain.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    heal the rift — to resolve a disagreement or restore a relationship
  • •
    time heals all wounds — emotional pain diminishes over time
  • •
    heal thyself — to focus on one's own problems before helping others

Related words

Antonyms: harm, injure, wound
See also: cure, healer, healing, health
Synonyms: cure, mend, recover, restore

Etymology

From Old English haelan ("to make whole, cure"), from Proto-Germanic hailjan, related to hal ("whole"). Cognate with German heilen and Dutch helen.