Meaning & use
healthy
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having or showing good physical or mental condition; not ill.
Grammar: Used to describe people, animals, or parts of the body. Can be used before a noun or after a linking verb.
Patterns
- healthy person
- healthy child
- stay healthy
- look healthy
She looks healthy and full of energy.
A healthy diet and regular exercise keep you healthy.
The doctor said the baby was healthy and developing well.
adjectivecomparable
Good for your body or mind; likely to make you well or keep you well.
Grammar: Describes food, habits, activities, or environments that benefit health. Often used before a noun.
Patterns
- healthy food
- healthy habit
- healthy lifestyle
- healthy choice
Eating more vegetables is a healthy habit.
They promote a healthy lifestyle with plenty of sleep and exercise.
A healthy work environment reduces stress.
adjectivecomparable
Working well and likely to continue successfully; strong and balanced.
Grammar: Used about organizations, economies, relationships, or systems. Often before a noun.
Patterns
- healthy economy
- healthy profit
- healthy relationship
- healthy debate
The company reported a healthy profit this year.
A healthy economy creates jobs and opportunities.
They have a healthy relationship built on trust and respect.
Word forms
| comparative | healthier |
|---|---|
| superlative | healthiest |
Common combinations
- stay healthy
- It's important to stay healthy as you get older.
- healthy diet
- A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- healthy appetite
- After the hike, the children had a healthy appetite.
- healthy glow
- Her skin had a healthy glow after the vacation.
- perfectly healthy
- The check-up showed he was perfectly healthy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- well
- Often used after a verb to mean not ill, as in 'I feel well'; 'healthy' is more general and can also describe things that promote health.
- fit
- Focuses on physical condition and exercise; 'healthy' can also refer to mental or financial well-being.
- sound
- Suggests strong and without disease or damage, often in formal or technical contexts; 'healthy' is more everyday.
Opposites
Word family
- health noun
- The general condition of the body or mind.
- healthily adverb
- In a way that is good for your health.
- healthiness noun
- The quality of being healthy.
Commonly confused: healthy or healthful?
healthy vs healthful
Healthful means 'good for your health' (e.g., healthful food), while healthy can mean both 'in good health' and 'good for health'.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'After a week in the hospital, she finally felt ___ again.'
Choose one answer.
The adjective 'healthy' describes the person's condition after a linking verb like 'felt'. 'Healthily' is an adverb and would describe how something is done, not how someone feels. 'Health' is a noun and cannot follow 'felt' in this way. 'Healthful' means 'good for health' and is not used for people's condition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “healthy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.