bless

[ bles ]

/ blɛs /

See synonyms for: bless / blessed / blesses / blessing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

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

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.

SYNONYMS FOR bless

1 exalt, hallow, glorify, magnify, beatify.

See synonyms for bless on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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); see blood

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

blesser, nounbless·ing·ly, adverboutbless, verb (used with object), out·blessed or out·blest, out·bles·sing.pre·bless, verb (used with object)

Words nearby bless

blepharotomy, Blériot, blert, blesbok, blesbuck, bless, blessed, blessed event, Blessed Sacrament, Blessed Virgin, Blessig's cysts

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for bless

We’re blessed to live in countries where we can be who we are and yet we know that there are individual cases around the world, individual countries that deny just basic human rights.
Grenell defends progress in global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality|Chris Johnson|September 23, 2020|Washington Blade
It’s like, songs like that makes me realize how I’ve been a wretch, and yet God will bless me.
Loving, and Losing, With Cory Booker|Nick Fouriezos|September 22, 2020|Ozy
That’s when a country seemingly blessed with valuable natural resources ultimately suffers because it fails to diversify their economy.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
I was blessed enough to get this opportunity at a very young age, but I’ve taken every opportunity that’s come my way.
Full Transcript: Tomi Lahren on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’|Daniel Malloy|August 31, 2020|Ozy

In 1923, San Diego adopted its first zoning ordinance – six years after the Supreme Court outlawed racial districts, and three years before the court blessed the basic structure of zoning we know today.
Single-Family Zoning’s Century of Supremacy in San Diego|Andrew Keatts|August 26, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Beth, bless her, later asks Joan what Gorman has done to her.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Slabtown’: The Real Source of Terror Isn’t Walkers, It’s Rape|Melissa Leon|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the one hand it can bless you with exceptional land for growing grapes.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards|Clive Irving|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.
How to Pray in the Public Square|Gene Robinson|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bless us with humility open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
How to Pray in the Public Square|Gene Robinson|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So bless HBO for heating things up a bit with the release of an epic 15-minute trailer for the fourth season of Game of Thrones.
Watch HBO's Epic 'Game of Thrones' Season 4 Trailer (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well, Tom, I can give you some just for form's sake; but bless you, you won't able to eat it.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade
And your babies are the most irresistible angels that ever came to bless and—enliven—a sordid world.
Eve to the Rescue|Ethel Hueston
For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
We bless God with all our hearts for the constituted authorities of the country.
Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volume II|Charles Henry Mackintosh
Why, bless you, I know it all--even to the provisions of the will.
Jason|Justus Miles Forman

British Dictionary definitions for bless

bless

/ (blɛs) /

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

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 tothey were blessed with perfect peace

(usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etcshe was blessed with an even temper

rare to protect against evil or harm

bless! (interjection) an exclamation of well-wishing

bless you! (interjection)

a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed
an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise

bless me!, bless my soul! or God bless my soul! (interjection) an exclamation of surprise

not have a penny to bless oneself with to be desperately poor

Word Origin for bless

Old English blǣdsian to sprinkle with sacrificial blood; related to blōd blood

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

bless

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR bless

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of bless

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

Words nearby bless

Example sentences from the Web for bless

British Dictionary definitions for bless

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

Word Origin for bless

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

bless

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR bless

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of bless

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

Words nearby bless

Words related to bless

Example sentences from the Web for bless

British Dictionary definitions for bless

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

Word Origin for bless