blessing

[bles-ing]

noun

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

2. a special favor, mercy, or benefit.

   the blessings of liberty.

   Synonyms: bounty, profit, gain, boon, advantage

3. a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

4. the invoking of God's favor upon a person.

   The son was denied his father's blessing.

5. praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal.

   The children took turns reciting the blessing.

6. approval or good wishes.

   The proposed law had the blessing of the governor.

blessing

/ ˈblɛsɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of invoking divine protection or aid

2. the words or ceremony used for this

3. a short prayer of thanksgiving before or after a meal; grace

4. Also called: brachah.  brocho. Judaism

   1. a short prayer prescribed for a specific occasion and beginning "Blessed art thou, O Lord…"

   2. a section of the liturgy including a similar formula

5. approval; good wishes

   her father gave his blessing to the marriage

6. the bestowal of a divine gift or favour

7. a happy event or state of affairs

   a blessing in disguise

Word History and Origins

Origin of blessing¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English blessinge, blessunge, Old English bletsung, bledsung; equivalent to bless + -ing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

• give thanks for small blessings
• mixed blessing

Example Sentences

Some of the show’s drama stems from these gaps in faith, as when one woman brings a flask to a baby blessing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They’d spent so much time with each other, their coach says, that it could be “a blessing and a curse.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"To have her stamp of approval and blessing was a real honour," he said.

Read more on BBC

The home’s time-capsule state was both a blessing and a curse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This year, members gathered for prayer at the Texas Capitol, blessing its walls on the first day of the 2025 legislative session.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• asset 
• boon 
• gift 
• good fortune www.thesaurus.com
• good luck 
• kindness 
• miracle