belonging
noun
be·long·ing
bi-ˈlȯŋ-iŋ 
bē-
1
: possession
—usually used in plural
2
: close or intimate relationship
a sense of belonging
belongingness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of belonging in a Sentence
the warm welcome they received from the community gave them a sense of belonging
packed up all their belongings and moved across the country
Recent Examples on the Web
Her boxes sat at the entrance of the building, along with plastic bags filled with her belongings.
—
Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023
The message during the wildfires in Tenerife, from Spain’s ecology minister to President Pedro Sánchez, was clear: Save people and their belongings first, and the forest area second.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2023
Video shot outside the jail Tuesday showed Johnson, smiling and wearing gray sweats with white socks and black slides, walking next to a sheriff's deputy who was pushing a cart with belongings inside.
—CBS News, 7 Sep. 2023
Futons, clothes, a lamp, a few books, and a cat—that was the extent of our belongings.
—Haruki Murakami, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
But there may be other ways to interact with our belongings that would spark a more lasting joy, and be better for the planet and the humans around us as well.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
Their belongings were also saved, but the catamaran was lost.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The crew and their belongings were saved but the catamaran was lost.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023
Witnesses told deputies the victim and a female came to remove some belongings from the residence of the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Dennis Alen Keener.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2023
See More
Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023
The message during the wildfires in Tenerife, from Spain’s ecology minister to President Pedro Sánchez, was clear: Save people and their belongings first, and the forest area second.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2023
Video shot outside the jail Tuesday showed Johnson, smiling and wearing gray sweats with white socks and black slides, walking next to a sheriff's deputy who was pushing a cart with belongings inside.
—CBS News, 7 Sep. 2023
Futons, clothes, a lamp, a few books, and a cat—that was the extent of our belongings.
—Haruki Murakami, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
But there may be other ways to interact with our belongings that would spark a more lasting joy, and be better for the planet and the humans around us as well.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
Their belongings were also saved, but the catamaran was lost.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The crew and their belongings were saved but the catamaran was lost.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023
Witnesses told deputies the victim and a female came to remove some belongings from the residence of the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Dennis Alen Keener.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'belonging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near belonging
Cite this Entry
“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belonging. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on belonging
Nglish: Translation of belonging for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of belonging for Arabic Speakers
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