bless

1 of 2

verb

ˈbles 

blessed ˈblest  also blest ˈblest  ; blessing

transitive verb

1

religion : to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word

asked the priest to bless their marriage

Bless this home.

2

religion : to hallow with the sign of the cross

He blessed himself before liftoff.

3

: to invoke divine care for

bless your heart

—used in the phrase bless you to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

4

a

: praise, glorify

bless his holy name

b

: to speak well of : approve

5

: to confer prosperity or happiness upon

God has blessed us with four children.

6

archaic : protect, preserve

Bless me from marrying a usurer!

—Shakespeare

7

: endow, favor

blessed with athletic ability

blessed

2 of 2

adjective

bless·​ed ˈble-səd 

variants or less commonly blest

ˈblest 

1

religion

a

: held in reverence : venerated

the blessed saints

b

: honored in worship : hallowed

the blessed Trinity

c

: beatific

a blessed visitation

2

: of or enjoying happiness

specifically, Christianity : enjoying the bliss of heaven

—used as a title for a beatified person

the blessed Virgin Mary

3

: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune

a blessed event

4

—used as an intensive

… never had one blessed minute of instruction …

—Charles Scribner, Jr.

blessedly adverb

blessedness noun

Synonyms of bless

Verb

• consecrate
• dedicate
• sanctify
• hallow

Adjective

• divine
• holy
• heavenly
• sacred

Examples of bless in a Sentence

Verb

The priest blessed their marriage at the wedding.

The water for the baptism has been blessed.

The priest blessed the baby I held in my arms.

Adjective

The rain brought blessed relief from the heat.

He spent his weekend in blessed freedom.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The deal was blessed by the Justice Department in June (reportedly over the objections of staffers who were reviewing it). — Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 July 2026

Was blessed to live in Denver for all of those Red Wings-Avs playoff matchups. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Adjective

The overall operation, however, was for at least a few blessed hours in good, uneventful shape. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026

That lesson came back to me recently during the 33rd yahrzeit of my mother, Charlotte (Lazar) Gildin, of blessed memory. — Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English blētsian, from blōd blood; from the use of blood in consecration

Adjective

see bless

First Known Use

Verb

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

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing bless

• bless my soul
• bless you
• God bless you

Rhymes for bless

• chess
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse
• mess

Kids Definition

bless

verb

ˈbles 

blessed ˈblest  also blest ˈblest  ; blessing

1

: to make holy : hallow

2

: to make the sign of the cross upon or over

3

: to ask divine care or protection for

4

: to praise or honor as holy

5

: to make successful or happy

6

: endow sense 2, favor

Etymology

Verb

Old English blētsian, blēdsian "to bless, to consecrate (originally with blood)," derived from blōd "blood"