belonged

verb

past tense of belong
1
as in went
to have or be in a usual or proper place your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them

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2
as in pertained
to be the property of a person or group of persons those textbooks belong to the school system and not to the students

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belonged Tasks that belonged together had become separate obligations, each carrying the emotional weight of an unfinished thing. — Morissa Schwartz, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 A little Pi can now run technology that not very long ago belonged firmly in the expensive category. — New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026 The extra period belonged completely to the Valkyries, who outscored the Aces 16-6. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 His report shattered the notion that serious fine wine belonged exclusively to Europe and put Napa Valley on the global map. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Reasonable people can disagree about where Clark belonged behind Wilson, but leaving the Fever superstar outside the top five is borderline malpractice. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Not so long ago, such inquiries belonged among the woo-woo subsect of our social dynamics and our literature. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 That interview eventually convinced her that Loggins’ life belonged on screen. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 The first referred to the family to which a species belonged, and the second delineated exactly which species. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonged
  1. went
  2. pertained
  3. stayed
  4. placed
Verb
  • The Indiana Hoosiers haven’t lost a game since 2024, and the team went 11-2.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Sykes went 7-of-12 from the field, including two 3-pointers, off the bench.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of went
Verb
  • The district has not confirmed nor denied previous reporting from WSOC-TV that the investigation pertained to contracts with some of Hill’s former colleagues.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Both pertained to the same player in a way that had some believing there could be an easy out to fill out a Heat roster thinned by the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of pertained
Verb
  • And the reason that family stayed together was because of laughter and obvious love.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Ohio Supreme Court this week stayed the appellate court’s mandate, meaning that, for now, the trial court’s order is back in effect.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stayed
Verb
  • Coleman found instructive a 1938 ruling in favor of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who challenged a radio station that placed observers on a rooftop next to Forbes Field and paid them to provide play-by-play for an unauthorized radio broadcast.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Governor John Jay, a leading Federalist who placed greater faith in firm government than in popular judgment, had authorized the military presence after the sheriff reported fears of a rescue.
    — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of placed

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Cite this Entry

“Belonged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonged. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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