bless

1 of 3

verb

ˈbles How to pronounce bless (audio)
blessed ˈblest How to pronounce bless (audio) also blest ˈblest How to pronounce bless (audio) ; blessing
Synonyms of bless

transitive verb

1
religion : to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word
asked the priest to bless their marriage
Bless this home.
2
religion : to hallow with the sign of the cross
He blessed himself before liftoff.
3
: to invoke divine care for
bless your heart
—used in the phrase bless you to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed
4
a
: praise, glorify
bless his holy name
b
: to speak well of : approve
5
: to confer prosperity or happiness upon
God has blessed us with four children.
6
archaic : protect, preserve
Bless me from marrying a usurer!—Shakespeare
7
: endow, favor
blessed with athletic ability

blessed

2 of 3

adjective

bless·​ed ˈble-səd How to pronounce blessed (audio)
variants or less commonly blest
ˈblest How to pronounce blessed (audio)
1
religion
a
: held in reverence : venerated
the blessed saints
b
: honored in worship : hallowed
the blessed Trinity
c
: beatific
a blessed visitation
2
: of or enjoying happiness
specifically, Christianity : enjoying the bliss of heaven
—used as a title for a beatified person
the blessed Virgin Mary
3
: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune
a blessed event
4
—used as an intensive
… never had one blessed minute of instruction …—Charles Scribner, Jr.
blessedly adverb
blessedness noun

blessed

3 of 3

past tense and past participle of bless

Synonyms of bless

Relevance

Verb

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of bless in a Sentence

Verb The priest blessed their marriage at the wedding. The water for the baptism has been blessed. The priest blessed the baby I held in my arms. Adjective The rain brought blessed relief from the heat. He spent his weekend in blessed freedom.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Not for nothing has White Barn Inn been blessed with just about every hospitality and dining award possible—from the endless applause of regional magazines and AAA five diamond ratings to a spot on Traveler's Gold List. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Heads of state, parents of book recipients, music fans, movie fans and, like me, women who felt blessed to have had such a glamorous role model publicly mourned the loss. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Thai Buddhists fill a container with blessed water, which is attached to a pulley that leads to the upper part of the chedi. — Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026 Once, in the blessed era before the 24/7 news cycle and the omnipresence of social media, there was a lull in the months after the primary, with campaign activities picking back up around Labor Day. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bless

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English blētsian, from blōd blood; from the use of blood in consecration

Adjective

see bless

First Known Use

Verb

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

Adjective

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bless was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing bless

Rhymes for bless

See All Rhymes for bless

Browse Nearby Words

blesmol
bless
blessed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bless. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bless

verb
ˈbles How to pronounce bless (audio)
blessed ˈblest How to pronounce bless (audio) also blest ˈblest How to pronounce bless (audio) ; blessing
1
: to make holy : hallow
2
: to make the sign of the cross upon or over
3
: to ask divine care or protection for
4
: to praise or honor as holy
5
: to make successful or happy
6
: endow sense 2, favor
Etymology

Verb

Old English blētsian, blēdsian "to bless, to consecrate (originally with blood)," derived from blōd "blood"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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