blessing
gb/blˈɛsɪŋ/ us/blˈɛsɪŋ/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A gift or favor bringing benefit
Something good that helps you or makes you happy.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a blessing
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'blessing' with 'wish'; a blessing is something beneficial, not just something you hope for.
Synonyms
benefit (More general; does not imply divine or special favor.)
|
boon (Formal; often used for something helpful or beneficial.)
Antonyms
curse (Something that causes harm or suffering, often seen as the opposite of a blessing.)
Collocations
a real blessing
|count your blessings
|a blessing in disguise
|receive a blessing
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her children were a blessing after years of loneliness.
- The sunny weather was a blessing for the outdoor wedding.
- Having supportive friends is truly a blessing.
- Winning the scholarship was a blessing for his education.
Learner examples
- My family is a blessing to me.
- The rain was a blessing for the farmers.
- Good health is a blessing.
- This job is a blessing for us.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Religious prayer for divine favor
Words you say to ask God to help or protect someone.
Usage pattern:
give [someone/something] a blessing
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'permission'; while related in some contexts, a religious blessing is more ceremonial.
Synonyms
benediction (More formal and specifically religious.)
Antonyms
curse (A spoken wish for harm or misfortune.)
Collocations
give a blessing
|say a blessing
|bestow a blessing
|seek a blessing
Themes
religion
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The priest gave his blessing before the meal.
- They asked for the elder's blessing before the journey.
- She received her parents' blessing to get married.
- The ceremony ended with a final blessing.
Learner examples
- The teacher gave a blessing before lunch.
- We asked the priest for a blessing.
- My father gave me his blessing to travel.
- The blessing was short and simple.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Official approval or consent
When someone important says it is okay for you to do something.
Usage pattern:
have [someone's] blessing to [do something]
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'blessing' here when they mean 'support' without formal permission; in this meaning, it implies clear consent.
Synonyms
approval (General acceptance; not necessarily from a respected authority figure.)
|
consent (Formal permission; not always emotional approval.)
Antonyms
disapproval (Refusal to agree or accept an action.)
Collocations
give your blessing
|seek someone's blessing
|with his blessing
Themes
relationships
|daily life
|law
|business
|communication
Examples
- She married him with her parents' blessing.
- The manager gave his blessing to start the project early.
- We sought the mayor's blessing before launching the event.
Learner examples
- I have my parents' blessing to study abroad.
- The boss gave his blessing to our plan.
- We asked for her blessing before we started.
Grammar
Dictionary form
blessing
IPA
GB/blˈɛsɪŋ/
US/blˈɛsɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
bless - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bless)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: blessing
- Plural: blessing, blessings
Word family
Expressions
give someone your blessing
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn jˈʊɹ blˈɛsɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Approve an important action by someone else
To say it is okay for someone to do something important.
Examples
- Her parents gave her their blessing to move abroad.
- The coach gave his blessing for the player to join another team.
a blessing in disguise
1/ə blˈɛsɪŋ ˈɪn dɪsɡˈaɪz/
idiom
Something good hidden in something bad
Something that seems bad at first but later turns out to be good.
Examples
- Losing that job was a blessing in disguise—it pushed me to start my own business.
- Missing the train was a blessing in disguise because I met an old friend while waiting.
- Her injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise because she met her future partner during recovery.
count your blessings
1/kˈaʊnt jˈʊɹ blˈɛsɪŋz/
idiom
informal
be thankful for what you have
To think about and be happy for the good things in your life.
Examples
- Even though you lost your job, count your blessings—you still have your health and family.
- She likes to count her blessings every morning before starting work.
count your blessings
2/kˈaʊnt jˈʊɹ blˈɛsɪŋz/
idiom
Be grateful for what you have
To think about the good things in your life and be thankful for them.
Examples
- Whenever I feel sad, I try to count my blessings.
- Instead of complaining, count your blessings.