A1 noun Neutral #4,525 most common

heal

/hiːl/

To heal is to become healthy again after being physically hurt or feeling emotionally sad. This word describes the process where a wound like a cut closes or a broken bone repairs itself naturally over time.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Drink plenty of water to help your body heal.

Drink lots of water so your body can get better faster.

2

The surgeon will monitor how the skin heals after the operation.

The doctor will watch how the skin gets better after the surgery.

3

It takes a long time to heal after you lose a best friend.

It takes many days to feel happy again after a friend leaves.

Word Family

Noun
healing
Verb
heal
Adjective
healed
Related
health
💡

Memory Tip

HEAL has the same first three letters as HEALTH. When you HEAL, you get your HEALTH back.

Quick Quiz

It will take about two weeks for your cut to ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: a

Examples

1

Drink plenty of water to help your body heal.

everyday

Drink lots of water so your body can get better faster.

2

The surgeon will monitor how the skin heals after the operation.

formal

The doctor will watch how the skin gets better after the surgery.

3

It takes a long time to heal after you lose a best friend.

informal

It takes many days to feel happy again after a friend leaves.

4

Medical researchers study how cells heal damaged areas.

academic

Science experts look at how small body parts fix broken parts.

5

The manager wants to heal the trust between the workers.

business

The leader wants to fix the good feelings between the employees.

Word Family

Noun
healing
Verb
heal
Adjective
healed
Related
health

Common Collocations

heal quickly to get better in a short period of time
completely heal to become 100 percent well again
time to heal the amount of days needed to be healthy
heal naturally to get better without special medicine
help to heal to assist the body in fixing an injury

Common Phrases

Time heals all wounds

People stop feeling sad as time goes by.

Heal up

To finish the process of getting healthy.

Heal the rift

To fix a big disagreement or fight.

Often Confused With

heal vs heel

A 'heel' is the back part of your foot; 'heal' is the process of getting better.

heal vs hell

'Hell' is a place of suffering; 'heal' is a positive word for recovery.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'heal' when talking about physical injuries like cuts or emotional sadness. For general sickness like a fever, it is more natural to say 'get better'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Do not use 'heal' for fixing broken machines; use 'repair' or 'fix' instead. Also, remember 'heal' is the action, while 'health' is the state of being well.

💡

Memory Tip

HEAL has the same first three letters as HEALTH. When you HEAL, you get your HEALTH back.

📖

Word Origin

From Old English 'hælan', which means to make something whole or sound.

Grammar Patterns

Regular verb: heal (present), healed (past), healed (past participle). Can be used with 'from': 'She is healing from her injury.' Can be transitive: 'The cream heals the skin.'
🌍

Cultural Context

The proverb 'time heals all wounds' is very common in English-speaking cultures to comfort those experiencing grief.

Quick Quiz

It will take about two weeks for your cut to ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: a

More Health words

head

A1

The upper part of the human body that contains the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It is supported by the neck and is the center for the senses and thinking.

ear

A1

The ear is the organ on the side of the head that humans and animals use to hear sounds. It also helps the body maintain its sense of balance.

mouth

A1

The opening in the lower part of the human face, surrounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and sounds and speech are emitted. It contains the teeth and the tongue and is the beginning of the digestive tract.

tooth

A1

A tooth is one of the hard, white objects in your mouth used for biting and chewing food. Humans have two sets of teeth during their lives: primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth.

shoulder

A1

The shoulder is the part of the human body where the arm connects to the trunk. It consists of a large joint that allows the arm to rotate and move in many directions.

finger

A1

One of the five long, thin parts at the end of the human hand. Fingers are used for feeling, touching, and gripping objects.

stomach

A1

The organ in your body where food goes after you eat it to be broken down. It is also the front part of your body below the chest and above the legs.

leg

A1

A leg is one of the long parts of the body that humans and animals use for standing, walking, and running. It refers to the entire limb starting from the hip down to the ankle.

foot

A1

The foot is the part of the body at the bottom of the leg that a person stands on. It is used for balance, walking, running, and jumping.

toe

A1

A toe is one of the five separate parts at the end of the human foot. They help provide balance and support the weight of the body while standing or walking.

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