Word
blessing
Phoneticsbless·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫɛsɪŋ/
UK/blˈɛsɪŋ/
Definitions
01something good
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is extremely lucky or helpful.
n. a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; a source of happiness or good fortune.
日本語:恵み※
“Having a supportive family has been a real blessing during these difficult times.”
“The sudden rain was a blessing for the farmers, whose crops were beginning to wither after weeks of intense heat.”
Antonyms
02approval
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. official permission or support for something.
n. a formal expression of approval or sanction for a particular course of action.
“The couple asked for her parents' blessing before they got married.”
“The board of directors gave their blessing to the merger, provided that no staff members were made redundant in the process.”
Antonyms
03religious prayer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a prayer asking for God's help or protection.
n. a prayer or ceremony intended to invoke divine favour or protection.
日本語:祝福※
“The priest gave a final blessing to the crowd at the end of the service.”
“Before the feast began, the eldest member of the family offered a traditional blessing to express gratitude for the harvest.”
Synonyms
04a group of unicorns
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. the special name for a group of unicorns.
n. a collective noun specifically used for a group of unicorns.
“In the storybook, a blessing of unicorns lived in the enchanted forest.”
“The poet employed the whimsical term 'a blessing of unicorns' to evoke a sense of ancient, mythical wonder in the opening stanza.”
Usage
This is a collective noun; it is rarely used outside of fantasy literature or wordplay.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “blessing” in context.
Verb
01. count your blessings
“When you feel discouraged, take a moment to count your blessings and focus on what is going well.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. give your blessing
“The board of directors finally gave their blessing to the proposed merger.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
03. disguised blessing
“Losing my job turned out to be a disguised blessing because it forced me to start my own business.”
adj + noun
04. mixed blessing
“Getting the promotion was a mixed blessing, as it meant more money but much less time with his family.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. blessing in disguise
“Missing the flight was a blessing in disguise, as the original plane had to make an emergency landing.”
noun + prep
Preposition
06. with my blessing
“You can take the car this weekend with my blessing, provided you drive safely.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“It was financed in full by the Polish government-in-exile, with the blessing of the British and Indian governments.” “The lack of European football will be a temporary blessing.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
02. mixed blessing
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/blessing
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0