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
This is especially true with the sun entering Scorpio, and your socially conscious 11th house of associations, community and sense of belonging in the world.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
But while many edibles and ornamentals make good companions for apples and other fruit trees, some plants just don't belong in your backyard orchard.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
The key lies in communication and planning ahead, while maintaining stability and a sense of belonging for the children.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025
Its success requires being a place where people want to belong—and, for all Costco’s hard-nosed pursuit of low prices and high quality, such a desire has rested on an elusive sense of the company as a force for good in the world.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belong
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
But while many edibles and ornamentals make good companions for apples and other fruit trees, some plants just don't belong in your backyard orchard.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
The key lies in communication and planning ahead, while maintaining stability and a sense of belonging for the children.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025
Its success requires being a place where people want to belong—and, for all Costco’s hard-nosed pursuit of low prices and high quality, such a desire has rested on an elusive sense of the company as a force for good in the world.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 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 24 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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