blessing

noun

bless·​ing ˈble-siŋ How to pronounce blessing (audio)
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

Example Sentences

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 Being surrounded by love every night on tour has been an absolute blessing. Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2023 Haylee and Shawn Ladner, 26, of Purvis called the births a true blessing from God. Joshua Williams, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2023 But that limitation turns out to be an ecological blessing. WIRED, 27 Feb. 2023 As the totem pole was lifted out of the museum and lowered to the ground, its first time returning to Mother Earth, Nuxalkmc sang the Thunder Song – followed by women blessing and reawakening the totem’s spirit. Alaa Elassar, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023 Despite the drawbacks, the hydrogen production industry is a rapidly growing sector with bipartisan blessing. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Feb. 2023 Opponents are now suggesting that UNC’s accreditation could be in jeopardy over the board of trustees’ plan to create the new School of Civic Life and Leadership without the blessing of the faculty. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 12 Feb. 2023 Opened in 1982 with the blessing of Dalí himself, the museum has been the center of the fine arts movement in the Tampa Bay area since its arrival. Shea Peters, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2023 Aristotle gracefully quoted Socrates, Cleopatra the historic Egyptian ruler asked for the blessing of the gods, Madonna cited her perspective as a mother and a woman in the entertainment industry. Calvin Woodward, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blessing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

see bless

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of blessing was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near blessing

Cite this Entry

“Blessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blessing. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on blessing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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