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
From social isolation and digital overload to anxiety about identity, success, and belonging, today’s youth are navigating challenges that didn’t exist a decade ago.
—
William Jones, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Decisions about education belong primarily to parents and local communities, who are better positioned to meet children’s needs than the system.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
Childhood, the desire to belong, fear of loss, and affection are emotions that can be recognized anywhere in the world.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
There, the committee’s 21 members will take a final vote to decide whether the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge belongs on the prestigious list.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belong
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William Jones, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Decisions about education belong primarily to parents and local communities, who are better positioned to meet children’s needs than the system.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
Childhood, the desire to belong, fear of loss, and affection are emotions that can be recognized anywhere in the world.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
There, the committee’s 21 members will take a final vote to decide whether the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge belongs on the prestigious list.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belong
Cite this Entry
“Belong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belong. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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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