Synonyms

bless

American

[bles] / blɛs /

verb (used with object)

blessed, blest, blessing

to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.

Synonyms:

beatify, magnify, glorify, hallow, exalt
to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on.

Bless this house.
to bestow good of any kind upon.

a nation blessed with peace.
to extol as holy; glorify.

Bless the name of the Lord.
to protect or guard from evil (usually used as an interjection).

Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!
to condemn or curse.

I'll be blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn't my old friend!
to make the sign of the cross over or upon.

The Pope blessed the multitude.

bless British

/ blɛs /

verb

to consecrate or render holy, beneficial, or prosperous by means of a religious rite
to give honour or glory to (a person or thing) as divine or holy
to call upon God to protect; give a benediction to
to worship or adore (God); call or hold holy
(often passive) to grant happiness, health, or prosperity to

they were blessed with perfect peace
(usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etc

she was blessed with an even temper
rare to protect against evil or harm
(interjection) an exclamation of well-wishing
(interjection)
1. a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed
2. an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise
(interjection) an exclamation of surprise
to be desperately poor

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

blesser noun
blessingly adverb
outbless verb (used with object)
prebless verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of bless

First recorded before 950; Middle English blessen, Old English blētsian, blēdsian “to consecrate” (originally done with blood), earlier *blōdisōian ( blōd “blood” + -isō- derivational suffix + -ian verb suffix); blood

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed."

From BBC

“If you knew him, you loved him. A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”

From Los Angeles Times

He says he is "grateful and blessed" that family members in Sudan were able to leave the country.

From Barron's

God’s blessings and mercy for him and his family.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 58-year-old told the BBC: "Everyone thought I was going to die. I'm still in shock about what happened but I feel blessed I'm still here."

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023