To bless means to ask for God's favor, protection, or goodness for someone or something. When a priest blesses a congregation, he asks God to watch over them and bring them good fortune. When you sneeze and someone says “bless you,” they're offering a kind wish for your health, even if they say it out of habit rather than as a formal prayer.

Parents might bless their children before bed, asking God to keep them safe through the night. Religious leaders bless marriages, new buildings, or even fishing boats about to head out to sea. The word suggests calling down something good and protective from a higher power.

Being blessed means having good fortune, often understood as a gift from God or the universe. Someone might say “I feel blessed to have such good friends” or “We've been blessed with a beautiful day for the picnic.” Here, blessed means fortunate or grateful, recognizing that good things in life aren't always earned but sometimes simply given.

A blessing can be the prayer itself, or it can mean something that brings happiness and benefit to your life. People often say grace, a type of blessing, before meals to give thanks for their food. When you give someone your blessing, you're offering approval and support for what they want to do.