boon

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of boonnext
1
: a timely benefit : blessing
a boon to new homeowners
The rain was a boon for parched crops.
2
: benefit, favor
especially : one that is given in answer to a request
would not grant his boon

boon

2 of 2

adjective

1
: convivial
a boon companion
2
archaic : favorable

Examples of boon in a Sentence

Noun the couple's generous donation was a great boon to the charity's fund-raising campaign a softhearted man who finds it hard to deny any boon, whether it be for friend or stranger Adjective I and my boon companions celebrated that afternoon's victory on the gridiron with a night at a local dance club.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The $33 million expected annually for city homeless programs will be a boon, but may serve as funding backfill rather than additional money as originally intended. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026 The two Chinese supertankers are the first from the Asian nation observed taking barrels out of Persian Gulf, a boon for Beijing but nevertheless underscoring that the country has also been squeezed by the conflict. Julian Lee, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026 Today’s space industry, too, offers many economic boons, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin employing thousands. Anastasia Klimchynskaya, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026 The agreement is one of several signs that Texas Instruments is expanding its business beyond analog chips for electronic equipment — a likely boon for investors in its stock, according to Stifel. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boon

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bone prayer, request, the favor requested, from Old Norse bōn request; akin to Old English bēn prayer, bannan to summon — more at ban entry 1

Adjective

Middle English bon, from Anglo-French, good — more at bounty

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of boon was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boon. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

boon

1 of 2 noun
1
: something asked or granted as a favor
2
: something pleasant or helpful that comes at just the right time : blessing

boon

2 of 2 adjective
: merry sense 1
a boon companion
Etymology

Noun

Middle English boon "favor," from an early Norse word meaning "a request, plea"

Adjective

Middle English boon, bon "favorable," from early French bon "good," derived from Latin bonus "good" — related to bonus

More from Merriam-Webster on boon

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster