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

Upstairs, Funmilayo Erinfolami packs the last of her belongings into cardboard boxes. — Windsor Johnston, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026

Community events create the belonging that keeps people in the industry long enough to do business again next year. — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

But his house had been looted, his belongings, including two decades’ worth of journals, redistributed or destroyed. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

With years of belongings packed away, the sheer volume could be overwhelming once everything was finally out in the open. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for belonging

• prolonging
• longing
• thronging