blessed

American  

[bles-id, blest] / ˈblɛs ɪd, blɛst /

adjective

1. Sometimes Blessed consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified.

   the blessed bond of matrimony.

2. Sometimes Blessed worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship.

   Buddha, the Blessed One.

3. divinely or happily favored; fortunate to have, do, or experience something: often used in a lighthearted way or to avoid sounding boastful.

   We’ve been blessed with excellent health.

   You’re blessed to have such a supportive family.

   Look at the great handbag I found online for next to nothing—I’m so blessed!

4. blissfully happy or contented.

5. Roman Catholic Church. beatified.

6. bringing happiness and thankfulness.

   How exciting that you’re expecting—when is the blessed event supposed to happen?

   The steady income gave them a blessed sense of security.

7. Informal. damned.

   I'm blessed if I know.

8. Informal. (used as an intensifier).

   That lawyer was worth every blessed cent we paid him.

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noun

1. the blessed, those who have died and are believed to be experiencing happiness or bliss in heaven.

   Our beloved sister is now among the blessed.

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of bless.

blessed British  

/ blɛst, ˈblɛsɪd /

adjective

1. made holy by religious ceremony; consecrated

2. worthy of deep reverence or respect

3. RC Church (of a person) beatified by the pope

4. characterized by happiness or good fortune

   a blessed time

5. bringing great happiness or good fortune

6. a euphemistic word for damned

   I'm blessed if I know

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noun

1. Christianity the dead who are already enjoying heavenly bliss

Other Word Forms

• blessedly adverb
• blessedness noun
• superblessed adjective
• superblessedness noun
• well-blessed adjective

Etymology

Origin of blessed

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; bless + -ed ²

Example Sentences

After the NFL received competition from the American Football League, it sought to pool its TV revenue, which the Sports Broadcasting Act blessed for “sponsored telecasting.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

As Simon Elliott describes in his biography “The African Emperor,” Severus was a mercurial and contradictory character, capable by turns of savagery, cunning, wit and generosity, and always blessed with a sense of the theatrical.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The Supreme Court just last term blessed such schemes.

From Slate • Mar. 12, 2026

With the receiver wedged against her shoulder, the cord stretched across the kitchen, she cooked, cleaned, and strained tinctures of goldenseal and blessed thistle, while having the same conversation over and over.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover