belonging

noun be·long·ing \ -ˈlȯŋ-iŋ \

Definition of belonging

1 :possession —usually used in plural

2 :close or intimate relationship

a sense of belonging

—

belongingness

noun

Examples of belonging in a Sentence

her adoptive family gave the young girl a sense of belonging that she had never felt before
packed up all their belongings and moved across the country

Recent Examples of belonging from the Web

An attic only has so much room, and moving belongings into it is not practical in most cases.

— Popular Mechanics, "How to Evacuate Before a Storm or Flood," 25 Aug. 2017
As part of that order, issued by Circuit Judge Sibley G. Reynold, Acree was to have returned to the woman her automobile, credit cards and personal belongings.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Wanted man captured in Gardendale has 38-page rap sheet, preyed on women, police say," 24 Aug. 2017
Crews spent hours at the house, dousing hot spots, then hauling burned belongings and debris out to the front yard for removal.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oak Park home destroyed in fire, 3 families, including 11 children, displaced," 23 Aug. 2017
During the rush to get outside, gifts, food and personal belongings were abandoned.

— charles rabin, miamiherald, "There wasn’t a shooter, but security experts say the Dolphin Mall had to be cleared," 23 Aug. 2017
Some of the victim’s belongings were found in a car Williams drove the day she was killed.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Gov. Greitens stays execution of Marcellus Williams in 1998 murder," 22 Aug. 2017
As his parents begin to contemplate moving from their two-story colonial home in Annandale, N.J., to a smaller living space, Travis Miscia, a 30-year-old lawyer, would like to lay claim to a good number of his family’s belongings.

— tom verde, New York Times, "Aging Parents With Lots of Stuff, and Children Who Don’t Want It," 18 Aug. 2017
That, and holding drunk passengers accountable for their belongings.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "Uber Will Charge You $15 to Return Your Lost Items," 26 July 2017
Hotel guests briefly returned to their rooms to pick up their belongings but chose to spend the rest of the night outside, with some using sheets and cushions borrowed from nearby lounge chairs to build makeshift beds.

— Bloomberg.com, "Greece: Quake Kills Two, Sends Island Tourists Into Panic," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'belonging.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of belonging

1781

belonging Synonyms

Synonyms

familiarity, chumminess, closeness, inseparability, intimacy, nearness

Antonyms

distance

Related Words

immediacy; affinity, kinship; commitment, devotedness, devotion; affection, attachment, fondness, love, passion; constancy, faithfulness, fidelity; amity, fellowship, friendship, goodwill; affability, conviviality, cordiality, geniality; mutuality; cliquishness, clubbiness

Near Antonyms

aloofness, coldness, coolness, remoteness, reserve

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for belonging Nglish: Translation of belonging for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of belonging for Arabic speakers

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belonging

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belongingness

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Recent Examples of belonging from the Web

First Known Use of belonging

belonging Synonyms

Synonyms

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belonging

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belongingness

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