blessing

Something good or helpful that makes your life better and that you feel grateful for.

• The rain was a blessing.
• Having friends nearby has been a real blessing.
• Losing that job turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Similar words: benefit, gift

Opposites: curse

Common phrases: a real blessing, blessing in disguise, count every blessing

Someone’s approval or support for a plan or action.

• You have my blessing.
• They married with their families’ blessing.
• The manager gave her blessing to the new project.

How to use it: someone’s blessing to do something (They gave us their blessing to marry.); with someone’s blessing (She started the business with her parents’ blessing.)

Similar words: approval, consent, support

Opposites: disapproval

Common phrases: give a blessing, with someone’s blessing, blessing for something

Help or protection from God, or words asking God to give it.

• The priest gave a blessing.
• They prayed for God’s blessing on their journey.
• She whispered a blessing over the sleeping child.

How to use it: blessing on someone/something (The priest asked for a blessing on the family.)

Similar words: benediction

Opposites: curse

Common phrases: God’s blessing, give a blessing, ask a blessing, divine blessing

Good luck or a happy turn of events.

• Good fortune was a rare blessing.
• They wished him every blessing for the coming year.
• May this new year bring blessings to your family.

Similar words: good fortune, good luck

Opposites: misfortune

Common phrases: blessing of luck, wish a blessing, blessing of fortune