bliss

¹ American  

[blis] / blɪs /

noun

1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment.

   wedded bliss.

   Antonyms:

   misery

2. Theology. the joy of heaven.

3. heaven; paradise.

   the road to eternal bliss.

4. Archaic. a cause of great joy or happiness.

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idioms

1. bliss out,

   1. to experience bliss or euphoria.

      Just give them some bean sprouts and a little tofu and they bliss out.

   2. to cause to become blissful or euphoric.

      a recording guaranteed to bliss out every Mozart fan.

Bliss ² American  

[blis] / blɪs /

noun

1. Sir Arthur (Edward Drummond), 1891–1975, English composer.

2. Tasker Howard, 1853–1930, U.S. general.

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bliss ¹ British  

/ blɪs /

noun

1. perfect happiness; serene joy

2. the ecstatic joy of heaven

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Bliss ² British  

/ blɪs /

noun

1. Sir Arthur . 1891–1975, British composer; Master of the Queen's Musick (1953–75). His works include the Colour Symphony (1922), film and ballet music, and a cello concerto (1970)

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Related Words

See happiness.

Other Word Forms

• blissless adjective

Etymology

Origin of bliss

First recorded before 1000; Middle English blisse, Old English bliss, blīths, equivalent to blīthe blithe + -s suffix

Explanation

Bliss is a state of complete happiness or joy. Marriage is often associated with this joyous feeling: people who are married and still in love are described as living in wedded bliss. Another common association is heaven or paradise, as in eternal bliss. Bliss is from Middle English blisse, from Old English bliss, blīths. The final -s in this Old English word is actually a suffix and the word itself is related to blīthe, the source of modern English blithe, which means happy.

Example Sentences

Some sent whole essays on their experiences, which ranged from rapturous accounts of low-maintenance, high-performance driving bliss to warnings about hidden costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Her experiences are almost mythic, like peering through the looking glass at a time when misery could actively coexist with unbridled bliss.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Perhaps you’d like to be taken to dinner first, but “Pillion” is about Colin’s needs — specifically his need to please — and first-time feature filmmaker Harry Lighton challenges us to root for his bliss.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Listen to Yamaha: A swirling 80s funk groove allows Dijon to submerge himself in the bliss of enduring love.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Even if it is just part of the temporary scheme to rehabilitate me, it is bliss.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• euphoria
• happiness
• joy
• paradise