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

Zewde mapped out the walkways with the blessing of Irwin’s studio, enriching the dialogue between the two schemes. —Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024

From Catholic blessings of Portuguese fishing fleets to the human sacrifices of the Viking era, different cultures took great lengths to ensure the success and safety of sea voyages. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2024

The playwright has had the blessing of daughter Melissa Rivers, who is not only a creative consultant but also a central character (played by Gunn). —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024

Vanessa Garcia-Brito: One of the biggest blessings in my life has been being born a woman and being Latina. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 4 Nov. 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