godsend

USAGE SUMMARY

"godsend" is a valid and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to refer to someone or something that arrives unexpectedly and provides a great benefit. For example, "The gift card my aunt sent me was a godsend—it helped me buy groceries for the next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Skype is a godsend for keeping up with friends and family: Zac games online with friends around the world, and chats over Skype.

The Guardian - Travel

The cheerful woman I encountered in a wine shop tucked into the main square of Montreuil was a godsend for shoppers such as myself.

The Guardian - Travel

In hindsight, the Better Together chief executive Blair McDougall described the YouGov polls as a "godsend": "Those two YouGov polls were the best thing that happened to the campaign in terms of making the economic risk real, in terms of energising activists and getting the parties to work through the painful process of sorting out this stuff," he said.

The Guardian

Via a short ride in Zodiac motor boats, we tramp ashore in the ship's own issue yellow rubber suits and all-important wellies, a godsend in the wet peat bogs.

The Guardian - Travel

The word is a godsend.

The Guardian

The names of the 3.6m who signed the petition calling for the recall referendum were published; some were sacked from state jobs or denied passports or other official services.The third godsend for Mr Chávez was George Bush.

The Economist

"When this crisis came along, for me it was a godsend, because I could reorganise the company without having to battle the forces of the status quo," he says.

The Economist

These are cruise-ship tourists, who get on board in Vancouver and Seattle and then spend a week, or sometimes two, gazing in wonder at Alaska's fjords, forests and glaciers.The tourists, who total more than 600,000 by the end of the season in September, are an economic godsend for Alaska's coastal towns, many of which have been hard-hit by the decline of the logging business.

The Economist

That means it is usually cheaper to call than to send a text message.Outside America, the success of texting has been a godsend for operators.

The Economist

But one must stay awake until then, and for that, on American carriers anyway, there was always the SkyMall catalogue.For the uninitiated, SkyMall was the airborne version of the direct mail-order catalogues that once blighted mailboxes but were a godsend for shut-ins and the lazy.

The Economist

DPJ politician sees the timing of the Ospreys' arrival as a godsend.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "godsend" to emphasize the unexpected and beneficial nature of something. Avoid using it for expected or ordinary benefits.

Common error

Avoid using "godsend" to describe ordinary conveniences or expected outcomes. This diminishes the impact of the word and sounds hyperbolic. Save it for truly remarkable and unexpected benefits.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "godsend" is that of a noun. It identifies something regarded as a welcome or opportune occurrence, often unexpected. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis and the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "godsend" is a noun referring to an unexpected benefit or fortunate event. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. It is used to express gratitude or relief. When using "godsend", it's essential to emphasize the unexpected and beneficial nature of the event, and to avoid overusing it in mundane situations. Ludwig’s examples illustrate its consistent application in conveying significant positive impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stroke of luck

Emphasizes the role of chance in a positive outcome.

piece of good fortune

Focuses on the fortunate nature of the event or situation.

timely blessing

Highlights the positive impact received at a crucial moment.

unexpected advantage

Focuses on the unforeseen beneficial aspect.

fortunate event

A more neutral term for a positive occurrence.

welcome surprise

Highlights the unexpected and pleasant nature of the benefit.

happy accident

Focuses on the unintentional positive outcome.

lucky break

Similar to 'stroke of luck', emphasizing chance.

unhoped-for benefit

Emphasizes that the benefit was not anticipated.

manna from heaven

An idiom implying divine or miraculous provision.

FAQs

How to use "godsend" in a sentence?

"Godsend" is used to describe something that is unexpectedly beneficial or fortunate. For example, "The scholarship was a "godsend", allowing me to continue my studies."

What can I say instead of "godsend"?

You can use alternatives like "stroke of luck", "timely blessing", or "fortunate event" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "godsend" or "God send"?

"Godsend" is the correct spelling as a single word. "God send" as two separate words has a different meaning, implying a request for divine intervention.

What's the difference between "godsend" and "blessing"?

While both terms denote something positive, "godsend" specifically implies an unexpected benefit, whereas "blessing" can refer to any favorable circumstance, expected or not.