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Meaning & use

the healing effect

noun·Everyday

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UK/ðə ˈhiːlɪŋ ɪˌfekt/
US/ðə ˈhiːlɪŋ ɪˌfekt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    the result of a process in which a person or thing becomes healthy or whole again.

    Grammar: Usually used with the or a: the healing effect of rest.

    Patterns

    • the healing effect of something
    • have a healing effect on someone or something

    The healing effect of the cream was clear after just a few days.

    Many people believe in the healing effect of spending time in nature.

    The doctor explained the healing effect of a good night's sleep.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    the power of something to make a difficult emotional situation feel better.

    Grammar: Often used in the phrase a healing effect on someone.

    Patterns

    • a healing effect on someone
    • have a healing effect

    Her kind words had a healing effect on the whole family.

    Music can have a healing effect on people who are grieving.

  3. nouncountablemedicaltechnical

    in medicine, the observed improvement in a patient's condition that follows a treatment.

    Grammar: Used in medical writing and clinical reports.

    Patterns

    • the healing effect of a treatment
    • measure the healing effect

    The study measured the healing effect of the new drug on skin wounds.

    Researchers noted a strong healing effect in patients who received the therapy.

Word forms

pluralhealing effects

Common combinations

have a healing effect
The herbal tea is said to have a healing effect.
the healing effect of something
We talked about the healing effect of laughter.
a healing effect on someone
The holiday had a healing effect on her tired mind.
a powerful healing effect
The ointment had a powerful healing effect on the burn.

Synonyms and how they differ

curative effect
More formal and often used for medical treatments that cure disease, while healing effect can also describe emotional recovery.
restorative effect
Focuses on bringing strength or energy back, not necessarily on curing a wound or illness.
therapeutic effect
A technical term used mostly in medicine and psychology for the positive result of a therapy.

Opposites

harmful effectdamaging effect

Word family

heal verb
to make or become healthy again.
healer noun
a person or thing that heals.
healing adjective
helping someone or something to become healthy or whole again.

Commonly confused: the healing effect or heeling?

the healing effect vs heeling

Heeling is the -ing form of heel, meaning to put a heel on a shoe or to lean to one side; it sounds the same as healing but has a completely different meaning.

Practice

The gentle music had a calming and ______ effect on the patients.

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