healverb [ I or T ]
usuk/hiːl/B2 to make or become well again, especially after a cut or other injury:
The wounds were gradually healing (up).
The plaster cast helps to heal the broken bone.
If a bad situation or painful emotion heals, it ends or improves, and if something heals it, it makes it end or improve:
Peace talks were held to try to heal the growing rift between the two sides.
A broken heart takes a long time to heal.
More examples
- I've broken my leg, but the doctor says that it's a clean break, so it should heal easily.
- The wound healed, but the redness remained for a long time.
- Do stop picking at that spot, or it will never heal.
- People believed that the bones of St Swithin had the power to heal the sick.
- It can take months for a torn muscle to heal.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Recovering from illness
- be on the mend idiom
- bounce
- bounce back
- clear (sth) up
- come round
- convalescence
- convalescent
- correct
- corrective
- feel like a new woman/man idiom
- get over sth/sb
- hold
- lacunar
- mend
- new
- pull
- rehab
- rehabilitation
- rose
- throw sth off
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Becoming better
Making things better
healing
noun [ U ] usuk/ˈhiː.lɪŋ/
This herb has been used in healing for centuries.