# boon

/ˈbun/ (US) · /bˈuːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/boon
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. a favor or gift

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a favor or a gift that someone asks for or receives.

For teachers: a favor or request that is granted as a benefit.

- The king granted the knight a boon for his brave service.
- In ancient myths, heroes often undergo trials to earn a single boon from the gods.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in historical fiction, mythology, or very formal literature.

### 3. a close companion

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

used in the phrase 'boon companion' to mean a very close and fun friend.

For teachers: jovial or convivial; almost exclusively used in the fixed collocation 'boon companion'.

- The two men had been boon companions since their university days.
- He was known as a boon companion in the local taverns, always ready with a story and a laugh.

Usage: Usually restricted to the phrase 'boon companion'.

## Examples

- The new library is a boon to students.
- The sudden rain was a boon to the farmers who had been waiting for water.
- The invention of the printing press was a boon to the spread of knowledge across Europe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.