bless

You say “bless you” as a polite response when someone sneezes.

• Bless you! Do you need a tissue?
• She sneezed, and I said, “Bless you!”
• When someone sneezes, Dad always says, “Bless you.”

Common phrases: bless you, bless you again

If God does this, he gives someone help, protection, or good things.

• May God bless you.
• They believe the Lord has blessed their family.
• She prayed that God would bless their new home.

Common phrases: god bless someone, bless our home, bless this family

You say this to show thanks, affection, or sympathy towards someone.

• You brought me tea? Bless you!
• Bless her, she remembered my birthday.
• He tried so hard, bless him.

Common phrases: bless you, bless him, bless her

To give someone something good; usually used to say that someone is lucky to have it.

• She is blessed with a beautiful voice.
• We have been blessed with good health.
• Nature blessed the island with rich soil.

How to use it: be blessed with something (He is blessed with a good memory.); bless someone with something (Life has blessed them with wonderful friends.)

Similar words: gift, endow

Common phrases: bless someone with something, bless us with something

To say a prayer asking God to help or protect someone or something.

• The priest blessed the children.
• Grandmother blesses the food before we eat.
• They asked a bishop to bless their marriage.

Common phrases: bless the food, bless a marriage, bless someone

To approve a plan or decision, often from a position of authority.

• The board blessed the plan.
• Has the manager blessed this change?
• They would not proceed until the committee blessed the deal.

Similar words: approve, endorse

Opposites: reject

Common phrases: bless a plan, bless a deal, bless a proposal