blessing

1 of 2

noun

bless·​ing ˈble-siŋ 

1

a

: the act or words of one that blesses

say the blessing over the wine

a priestly blessing

b

: approval, encouragement

asked her parents for their blessing before he proposed

2

: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare

My daughter is a blessing to me in my old age.

Their absence turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Count your blessings.

3

: grace (see grace entry 1 sense 4) said at a meal

said the blessing before dinner

blessing

2 of 2

present participle of bless

Synonyms of blessing

Noun

• prayer
• petition
• benediction
• benison
• plea

Examples of blessing in a Sentence

Noun

Presumably he was acting with the government's blessing.

They got married without their parents' blessing.

We asked the Lord's blessing on us and on our project.

He said a blessing before the meal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Stone turned up at the Mugler show last weekend dressed like the late Manfred Thierry Mugler, working with the house on the stunt and with the blessing of Mugler’s partner. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, one monk intones that more offerings will bring the family greater blessing and peace. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

In the last moments of East of Eden, Adam gives his guilt-laden son the ability to choose, a gift and a blessing and a burden. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Hurley said the pope's blessing of the White Sox at the start of the playoffs was special. — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see bless

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing blessing

• mixed blessing
• second blessing

Rhymes for blessing

• dressing
• guessing
• messing
• pressing
• stressing
• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• depressing

Kids Definition

blessing

noun

bless·​ing

ˈbles-iŋ

1

: the act or words of one that blesses

2

: approval

gave my blessing to the plan

3

: something that makes one happy or content

4

: grace said at a meal