Cool MateHeal vs Mend
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Heal
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Mend
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Heal
| Heal | Mend | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hiːl/","/hiːlz/","/hiːld/","/ˈhiːlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hiːl/","/hiːlz/","/hiːld/","/ˈhiːlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //mɛnd//🇺🇸 //mɛnd// |
| Meaning | To make someone or something better after illness or injury. | To fix something that is broken. |
| Example | It took a long time for the wounds to heal. | She will mend the tear in her dress. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | completely, fully, properly | mend a relationship, mend a tear, mend a fence, mend broken hearts, mend clothes |
| Antonyms | injure, harm, worsen | break, damage, ruin |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'heal' vs 'heal up' - 'heal up' is more informal., Using 'heal' intransitively without an object when it should be 'heals'., Mixing it up with 'cure'—'cure' is more about diseases. | Confusing with 'amend', which means to improve text or legislation., Using 'mend' without an object, e.g., saying 'I mend.' instead of 'I mend clothes.', Incorrectly assuming 'mend' only applies to physical objects. |
| Usage notes | Use 'heal' when talking about recovery from injury or emotional pain. Avoid using it informally or in casual contexts where 'fix' might be more appropriate. | Used in everyday conversation; appropriate for casual and formal contexts. Avoid using with very technical objects. |
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Frequently asked questions: Heal vs Mend
What's the difference between Heal and Mend?
Heal: To make someone or something better after illness or injury. Mend: To fix something that is broken.
Which is more common: Heal and Mend?
Heal is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Heal: It took a long time for the wounds to heal. Mend: She will mend the tear in her dress.
Can I use Heal and Mend interchangeably?
Not always. Heal and Mend are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.