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
5
: to confer prosperity or happiness upon
God has blessed us with four children.
Examples of bless in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
On a recent weekend, we were blessed with an explosive infusion of culture in Broward County.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Shannon Sharpe, bless his heart, doesn't understand why the NFL has been captivated by the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal because the Pro Football Hall of Famer says the whole thing is a morals issue and didn't break any professional code of conduct.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The cult’s deity, a skeleton shrouded in a hooded robe, resembles a morbid inversion of the Virgin Mary, often blessed with tequila and marijuana smoke.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bless
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Shannon Sharpe, bless his heart, doesn't understand why the NFL has been captivated by the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal because the Pro Football Hall of Famer says the whole thing is a morals issue and didn't break any professional code of conduct.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The cult’s deity, a skeleton shrouded in a hooded robe, resembles a morbid inversion of the Virgin Mary, often blessed with tequila and marijuana smoke.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bless
Cite this Entry
“Bless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bless. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Etymology
Old English blētsian, blēdsian "to bless, to consecrate (originally with blood)," derived from blōd "blood"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
