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Meaning & use

healed

verb, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/hiːld/
US/hiːld/

“healed” is a form of “heal”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitive

    Past tense and past participle of 'heal': became healthy again, or made someone or something healthy again.

    Grammar: Use 'healed' after 'have' or 'be', or as the past simple: 'The cut healed quickly.' / 'The doctor healed the wound.'

    Patterns

    • something healed
    • someone healed something
    • be healed

    The small cut on my finger healed in a few days.

    Her broken leg healed well after the operation.

    Time healed the pain of losing his old job.

  2. adjectivenot comparable

    Having become healthy again, especially of skin, a wound, or a broken bone.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: 'a healed wound', 'The wound is healed.'

    Patterns

    • a healed wound
    • be fully healed

    The healed scar is barely visible now.

    Once the bone is healed, you can start walking again.

    She showed the doctor her healed knee.

Word forms

third person singularheals
past tensehealed
past participlehealed
-ing formhealing

Common combinations

healed completely
The burn healed completely after two weeks.
healed quickly
Children's bones usually heal quickly.
healed wound
The nurse checked the healed wound.
be healed
The injury is not fully healed yet.
healed over
The cut has healed over and left a thin line.

Synonyms and how they differ

cured
Use 'cured' for a disease or illness that has gone away; use 'healed' more for wounds, bones, or emotional pain.
recovered
'Recovered' means returned to normal health after being ill; 'healed' often focuses on the injured part becoming whole again.
mended
'Mended' is common in British English for bones and injuries; 'healed' is the more general and neutral choice.

Opposites

injuredworsened

Word family

heal verb
To become healthy again or to make something healthy again.
healing noun
The process of becoming healthy again.
healer noun
A person or thing that makes someone healthy again.
healing adjective
Helping someone or something become healthy again.

Commonly confused: healed or heeled?

healed vs heeled

'Heeled' is the past of 'heel' (to put heels on shoes) or describes having heels: 'well-heeled'. It sounds the same as 'healed' but has a completely different meaning.

Practice

My sprained ankle ______ after about ten days of rest.

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