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 of belonging

• intimacy
• familiarity
• kinship
• friendship

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

Talking to your belongings is all-consuming. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026

This tells us that belonging doesn’t announce itself but lives in the ways our lives intersect. —Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026

That doesn’t mean things have always been done right; reports that police and sanitation workers have in some circumstances simply discarded or destroyed inhabitants’ belongings without giving them the ability to pack up are shameful. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026

Since no one wants clutter crowding their new space, paring down belongings often comes with the territory. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for belonging

• prolonging
• longing
• thronging