1
a
: a strip of flexible material worn especially around the waist as an item of clothing or a means of carrying something (such as tools)
b
: a similar article worn as a corset or for protection or safety or as a symbol of distinction
2
: a continuous band of tough flexible material for transmitting motion and power or conveying materials
3
a
: an area characterized by some distinctive feature (as of culture, habitation, geology, or life forms)
especially
: one suited to a particular crop
the corn belt
b
4
belted; belting; belts
1
a
: to encircle or fasten with a belt
b
: to strap on
3
: to mark with a band
4
: to sing in a forceful manner or style
belting out popular songs
5
: to drink quickly
belted down a shot of whisky
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb
- bang
- bash
- bat
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Noun (2)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of belt in a Sentence
Verb
His bathrobe was loosely belted.
He belted the ball down the fairway.
Some drunk got mad and threatened to belt me.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
On November 1, the Lucy spacecraft will snap photos while flying by an inner belt asteroid designated 1999 VD57.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
The belt buckles were separated by only about 12 inches.
—Hannah Drown, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
Getting the first one under his belt should quell outside noise about Napier’s long-term viability with the Gators (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference).
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Biden and his allies have focused on seven states: Arizona and Nevada in the west, Georgia and North Carolina in the southeast and Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the northern industrial belt.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
The device is small and lightweight (only 1.26 ounces) and very versatile, with its belt clip, key chain, and magnetic accessory options.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023
Over the summer, the two sisters traveled to Dripping Springs, Texas, to watch the first bottles of Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream come down the conveyor belt, filled with their boozy family recipe, then labeled and sealed.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023
Israel Adesanya is showing no signs of slowing down after taking his middleweight title belt back from Alex Pereira back in April.
—Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2023
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has reached a point no man in MLB history has come close to after belting his 40th home run of the season on Friday night.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Marcus Semien offered Kutter Crawford a life lesson on the Red Sox starter’s get-me-over fastball to open the bottom of the first, belting the 91-miles-per-hour meatball into the left-field seats at Globe Life Field for a leadoff homer.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Juan Soto belted a right-over-the-middle, 95-mph fastball for a solo home run to right field in the first inning, and Luis Campusano drove a middle-in, 84-mph changeup over the left-field wall for a three-run homer in the fourth.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
As the two ladies belt and harmonize over the tasteful arrangement, the judges’ panel — which includes Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger — sing along in awe.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
This portable karaoke machine is small enough to bring into the office for the opportunity to belt out some tunes.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
Norma Kamali Oversized Boyfriend belted twill shirt dress A shirt dress that has a more feminine cut?
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 31 Aug. 2023
This relative quickness, of course, is attributable to GM's Gen II 5.7-liter V-8, which belts out 260 horsepower at 5000 rpm and a locomotive-like 335 pound-feet of torque at a down-and-dirty 2400 rpm, all of it fed through a 9.5-inch ring-and-pinion assembly possibly purchased from Dale Earnhardt.
—John Phillips, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
This longline coat is decorated with lapels and cuffs adorned with imitation fur and can be tied at the waist with a matching corduroy belt (essential for keeping out the cold).
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
On November 1, the Lucy spacecraft will snap photos while flying by an inner belt asteroid designated 1999 VD57.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
The belt buckles were separated by only about 12 inches.
—Hannah Drown, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
Getting the first one under his belt should quell outside noise about Napier’s long-term viability with the Gators (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference).
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Biden and his allies have focused on seven states: Arizona and Nevada in the west, Georgia and North Carolina in the southeast and Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the northern industrial belt.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
The device is small and lightweight (only 1.26 ounces) and very versatile, with its belt clip, key chain, and magnetic accessory options.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023
Over the summer, the two sisters traveled to Dripping Springs, Texas, to watch the first bottles of Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream come down the conveyor belt, filled with their boozy family recipe, then labeled and sealed.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023
Israel Adesanya is showing no signs of slowing down after taking his middleweight title belt back from Alex Pereira back in April.
—Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
Verb
Lou Doillon wore a belted, billowing dress and cherry-red jelly sandals on a trip to Rome, while Alexa Chung took Elvis's visage as her date to Ashley Williams's London showing.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2023
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has reached a point no man in MLB history has come close to after belting his 40th home run of the season on Friday night.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Marcus Semien offered Kutter Crawford a life lesson on the Red Sox starter’s get-me-over fastball to open the bottom of the first, belting the 91-miles-per-hour meatball into the left-field seats at Globe Life Field for a leadoff homer.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Juan Soto belted a right-over-the-middle, 95-mph fastball for a solo home run to right field in the first inning, and Luis Campusano drove a middle-in, 84-mph changeup over the left-field wall for a three-run homer in the fourth.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
As the two ladies belt and harmonize over the tasteful arrangement, the judges’ panel — which includes Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger — sing along in awe.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
This portable karaoke machine is small enough to bring into the office for the opportunity to belt out some tunes.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
Norma Kamali Oversized Boyfriend belted twill shirt dress A shirt dress that has a more feminine cut?
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 31 Aug. 2023
This relative quickness, of course, is attributable to GM's Gen II 5.7-liter V-8, which belts out 260 horsepower at 5000 rpm and a locomotive-like 335 pound-feet of torque at a down-and-dirty 2400 rpm, all of it fed through a 9.5-inch ring-and-pinion assembly possibly purchased from Dale Earnhardt.
—John Phillips, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'belt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German balz belt; both from Latin balteus belt
Verb
Middle English belten, derivative of belt belt entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of belt was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing belt
Dictionary Entries Near belt
Cite this Entry
“Belt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belt. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
belt
1 of 3 noun1
: a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around a person's body for holding in or supporting something (as clothing, tools, or weapons) or for ornament
2
: a flexible continuous band running around wheels or pulleys and used for moving or carrying something
a fan belt on a car
3
: a region suited to or producing something or having some special feature
the corn belt
a storm belt
belt
2 of 3 verb1
: to put a belt on or around
2
: to hit hard
belt a home run
3
: to mark with a band
4
: to sing in a forceful way
belt out a song
belt
3 of 3 noun
: a jarring blow
More from Merriam-Webster on belt
Nglish: Translation of belt for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of belt for Arabic Speakers
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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