belonged; belonging; belongs
1
a
: to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous
a dictionary belongs in every home
b
: to be in a proper situation
a man of his ability belongs in teaching
2
a
: to be the property of a person or thing
—used with to
the book belongs to me
b
: to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency
—usually used with to
they belong to their homeland
c
: to be a member of a club, organization, or set
—usually used with to
she belongs to a country club
3
: to be an attribute, part, adjunct, or function of a person or thing
nuts and bolts belong to a car
4
: to be properly classified
Examples of belong in a Sentence
She was here for 15 years, but she never really belonged.
your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them
Recent Examples on the Web
Pritam’s Partition writings offer incisive critiques of the barbarity that became life with borders but also contest notions of belonging from a feminist perspective.
—
JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a city as rapidly changing as Miami, the act of slowing down to preserve, narrate, and walk through the past becomes a form of belonging.
—Carmen F De Terenzio, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
For youth paralyzed by dread, this is a counter-story — one of belonging, purpose and the possibility of building a better future.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Leila has received countless messages from people who connected with her experience and highlighted the importance of belonging.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belong
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JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a city as rapidly changing as Miami, the act of slowing down to preserve, narrate, and walk through the past becomes a form of belonging.
—Carmen F De Terenzio, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
For youth paralyzed by dread, this is a counter-story — one of belonging, purpose and the possibility of building a better future.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Leila has received countless messages from people who connected with her experience and highlighted the importance of belonging.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belong
Cite this Entry
“Belong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belong. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
belong
verb
be·long
bi-ˈlȯŋ 
1
: to be in a proper place
this book belongs on the top shelf
2
a
: to be the property of a person or group of persons
the watch belongs to me
b
: to be a member
belongs to our club
3
: to be a part of : be connected with : go with
the parts belonging to the clock
4
: to be classified
whales belong among the mammals
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