1 B1 informal
(of a wound, sore, or injury) To recover fully and return to a healthy state.
"The doctor said the broken bone should heal up nicely within six weeks."
inseparable
heal up
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
For a wound, injury, or illness to recover and return to a healthy state.
In plain English
For a wound or injured part of your body to get better completely.
What does "heal up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
(of a person) To recover from an illness or injury.
"'How's your ankle?' 'It's healing up really well — I'll be back at training next week.'"
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To heal all the way up (completely).
Actually means
For a wound or injured part of your body to get better completely.
Usage tip
Conversational and informal. Very commonly used when asking about or describing recovery from cuts, breaks, sprains, and similar physical injuries. The 'up' particle adds a sense of completion — the healing is done or nearly done.
Words that pair with "heal up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
nicely quickly slowly well completely wound injury
How to conjugate "heal up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
heal up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
heals up
he/she/it
Past simple
healed up
yesterday
Past participle
healed up
have + pp
-ing form
healing up
continuous
Hear "heal up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "heal up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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