English Reference
noun · adjective

healing

n. · adj.
US /ˈhiɫɪŋ/ UK /hˈiːlɪŋ/ heal·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Medicine

    n.the process of your body repairing itself after an injury or illness.

    n.the physiological process by which the body regenerates or repairs damaged tissue.

    Simple

    The doctor said that the healing of the bone would take six weeks.

    In context

    Proper nutrition and rest are essential factors that accelerate the healing of deep surgical incisions.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun to describe the general process.

    recoveryconvalescencemending
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the process of feeling better mentally after a difficult or sad time.

    n.the psychological process of resolving emotional trauma or grief.

    Simple

    Time and support from friends helped her start the healing after the breakup.

    In context

    The community organised a memorial service to begin the collective healing after the tragedy.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.having the power to make someone feel better or healthy again.

    adj.possessing the property of restoring health or soundness.

    Simple

    The warm soup had a healing effect on his sore throat.

    In context

    Many cultures believe that these natural springs possess unique healing properties for skin conditions.

    Usage

    Typically used before a noun.

    therapeuticcurativerestorative

Etymology 1

From Middle English heelinge, helynge, from Old English hǣling (“healing”), from Proto-Germanic hailingō (“healing”), from Proto-Germanic hailijaną (“to heal”), equivalent to heal + -ing. Cognate with West Frisian hieling (“healing”), Dutch heling (“healing”), German Heilung (“healing; cure”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English heelyng, equivalent to heal + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *hailijaną
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated