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
In that respect, the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1984 Chevron doctrine could turn out to be a pyrrhic victory for business leaders and a boon for lobbyists and lawyers. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 July 2024 The change has been a boon to Aedes aegypti, which is able to transmit diseases at higher temperatures than other mosquito species. —Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 30 June 2024 The Biden Administration is actively working to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance, a move that would be a boon for the industry. —Kevin A. Sabet, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2024 The Charlotte franchise is considered among the most attractive in minor league baseball — much of that having to do with the boon that is Truist Field, the park encased by skyscrapers that opened in 2014. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 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 15 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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