belong

verb

be·​long bi-ˈlȯŋ 

bē-

belonged; belonging; belongs

intransitive verb

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

auxiliary verb

chiefly Southern US and south Midland US : ought, must

Synonyms of belong

• stay
• go

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

For decades, the idea of a robot working inside an operating room belonged more to science fiction than medicine. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

These connections form an invisible architecture of care and belonging. — Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026

Kevin Lomon belongs in the latter category, pitching briefly for the Braves in 1996 during a major league career that ultimately lasted just 12 games. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Instead, Joe’s bureaucratic limbo provides a route into questions of usefulness, intimacy and belonging, combining an absurdist view of the future with a warmer, more humanist register. — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English belongen, from be- be- + longen "to be suitable" — more at long entry 5

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing belong

• belong to

Rhymes for belong

• agung
• along
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• lifelong
• plainsong
• prolong
• sarong
• tanjong
• weeklong

Kids 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