blessing

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 5) said at a meal

said the blessing before dinner

Synonyms

• prayer
• petition
• benediction
• benison
• plea

Examples of blessing in a Sentence

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

Now each normal day together feels like a blessing laced with fear. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025

But, because of the fragile nature of the pumpkin, Bierton understands that it’s not meant to last, which is both a blessing and a curse. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

Their dance began with a ritual which asks for blessing from the Gods and those around them to start their performance. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025

With Mary’s blessing, Scalzitti opened a sister location in Lakeside. —Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see bless

First Known Use

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