boon

1 of 2

noun

ˈbün How to pronounce boon (audio)
Synonyms of boonnext
1
: a timely benefit : blessing
a boon to new homeowners
The rain was a boon for parched crops.
2
: benefit, favor
especially : one that is given in answer to a request
would not grant his boon

boon

2 of 2

adjective

1
: convivial
a boon companion
2
archaic : favorable

Synonyms

Noun

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of boon in a Sentence

Noun the couple's generous donation was a great boon to the charity's fund-raising campaign a softhearted man who finds it hard to deny any boon, whether it be for friend or stranger Adjective I and my boon companions celebrated that afternoon's victory on the gridiron with a night at a local dance club.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Civil rights tourism had been a boon to the state economy — 4 in 10 visitors come to the state to see the civil rights sites in Montgomery, 2 in 10 go to 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, according to the state tourism bureau — but his city offered little to those who sojourned there. —Michael S. Williamson, Washington Post, 22 June 2024 Leasing land for a solar or wind project can also be an economic boon for farmers struggling with tight profit margins. —Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024 The summer solstice is a boon for solar energy More sunlight in a day means more juice for solar panels, boosting electrical supplies in homes with the setup. —Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 19 June 2024 That's a boon for still photography in theory, but, in this instance, the focus ring is loose to the point of being sloppy. —PCMAG, 6 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for boon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bone prayer, request, the favor requested, from Old Norse bōn request; akin to Old English bēn prayer, bannan to summon — more at ban entry 1

Adjective

Middle English bon, from Anglo-French, good — more at bounty

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of boon was in the 12th century

Phrases Containing boon

Dictionary Entries Near boon

boomy

boon

boon companion

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Boon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boon. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

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Kids Definition

boon

1 of 2 noun
ˈbün How to pronounce boon (audio)
1
: something asked or granted as a favor
2
: something pleasant or helpful that comes at just the right time : blessing

boon

2 of 2 adjective
: merry sense 1
a boon companion
Etymology

Noun

Middle English boon "favor," from an early Norse word meaning "a request, plea"

Adjective

Middle English boon, bon "favorable," from early French bon "good," derived from Latin bonus "good" — related to bonus

More from Merriam-Webster on boon

Nglish: Translation of boon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of boon for Arabic Speakers

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