blessing

noun

bless·​ing ˈble-siŋ 

1

a

: the act or words of one that blesses

say the blessing over the wine

a priestly blessing

b

: approval, encouragement

asked her parents for their blessing before he proposed

2

: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare

My daughter is a blessing to me in my old age.

Their absence turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Count your blessings.

3

: grace (see grace entry 1 sense 5) said at a meal

said the blessing before dinner

Synonyms

• benediction
• benison

Examples of blessing in a Sentence

Presumably he was acting with the government's blessing.

They got married without their parents' blessing.

We asked the Lord's blessing on us and on our project.

He said a blessing before the meal.

Recent Examples on the Web

His column focuses on the blessings and burdens of advancing age — and how some folks are challenging the stigma associated with older adults. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024

Filmed in Colombia and told in Spanish as García Márquez wished, the show has the blessing of the author’s sons, who serve as executive producers. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024

For this accidental genetic blessing, Hudnal was awarded $50, flowers, and a tiny monkey statue in honor of Patel's recent feature film directorial debut, Monkey Man. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Awakening the Great Organ is just the beginning of a series of ceremonial rituals marking the reopening of the Notre-Dame before the Archbishop gives his final blessing, followed by the singing of the Te Deum, an ancient Latin hymn of praise to God. —NBC News, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see bless

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing blessing

• mixed blessing
• second blessing

Kids Definition

blessing

noun

bless·​ing

ˈbles-iŋ

1

: the act or words of one that blesses

2

: approval

gave my blessing to the plan

3

: something that makes one happy or content

4

: grace said at a meal