- present participle of bless.
blessing
Americannoun
-
blessings
plural
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the act or words of a person who blesses.
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a special favor, mercy, or benefit.
the blessings of liberty.
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a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.
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the invoking of God's favor upon a person.
The son was denied his father's blessing.
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praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal.
The children took turns reciting the blessing.
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approval or good wishes.
The proposed law had the blessing of the governor.
noun
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the act of invoking divine protection or aid
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the words or ceremony used for this
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a short prayer of thanksgiving before or after a meal; grace
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Also called: brachah, brocho. Judaism
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a short prayer prescribed for a specific occasion and beginning "Blessed art thou, O Lord…"
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a section of the liturgy including a similar formula
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approval; good wishes
her father gave his blessing to the marriage
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the bestowal of a divine gift or favour
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a happy event or state of affairs
a blessing in disguise
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of blessing
First recorded before 900; Middle English blessinge, blessunge, Old English bletsung, bledsung; equivalent to bless + -ing 1
Explanation
A blessing is a prayer asking for divine protection, or a little gift from the heavens. It's also any act of approving, like when your roommate wants to move out and you give her your blessings. Blessings have to do with approval. The first meaning is asking for divine protection or favor. Priests and ministers say blessings in church, and some families say a blessing before dinner. Outside a religious context, blessings are less formal. "I give you my blessing" simply means "It's OK with me." People give their blessings to ideas and actions when they agree with them. Giving a blessing is often the same as giving permission.
Vocabulary lists containing blessing
Passover Vocabulary
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myPerspectives 10.4
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All Saints' Day
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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.
See Examples For:
The Big Ten was the primary driving force behind the expansion, which gained momentum recently when the Southeastern Conference gave its blessing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
It would be ideal, if not absolutely necessary, if you each retired with the other’s blessing.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
It’s a blessing of agency that sounds much easier to accept when you have more options than Cathy.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
A Medicare decision, especially alongside a blessing from guideline groups like the American Cancer Society, is what tends to pry open the commercial market, says Dan Brennan of TD Cowen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
What was the hidden blessing in that, Ma?
From "Worth" by A. LaFaye
"Sometimes, what would look like to be my biggest mistakes turn out to be my biggest blessings."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
"I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don't work for money, never did."
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Truong repeated one of the blessings from the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
Watching him grow into a man who wears the uniform with honor and integrity has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
“Well, you have my blessings, Katherine,” Mamá told me.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
