belonged

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 The panel unanimously agreed Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg belonged in the same tier as McKenna, with Wheeler emphasizing the historical strength of his season in the SHL. Corey Pronman, New York Times, 11 June 2026 The book is full of stories of villains, like the venomous heroin that took so many of Seattle’s crusaders as well as the music industry that never quite understood where Soundgarden belonged. Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 June 2026 Both avid card collectors, there was no doubt in Jensen’s mind where the rare, valuable find belonged. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026 The jury instructions state that the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a conspiracy existed to which the defendant knowingly belonged and that the acts were committed in furtherance of that conspiracy during the defendant’s membership in it. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026 But it has been taught, somewhere along the way, to perform this devotion and then step around the women who embody it, as though reverence were something that belonged only in stone, only in myth, only safely out of reach of the living. Vogue, 1 June 2026 In March, the French navy seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean that Macron said belonged ‌to Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises several hundred tankers through which Russia evades sanctions. Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 1 June 2026 Grief, which once belonged privately to you and the people around you, now arrives with engagement metrics attached. Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Before the interstates, before the road trip became a rite of passage, before the family station wagon became a cultural institution, Americans and cars belonged together. Gil West, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonged
Verb
  • Arasheben went downtown, knocked on doors and found somebody to make it for $37,000.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • Just one minute later, Heung-min ran through the Czechia back line and had another open look, but this shot went wide of the goal to the left.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Mickelson was one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour before his controversial move to LIV and comments about his Saudi backers, and his career survived some unsavory headlines, several of which pertained to gambling.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • While that ruling pertained only to admissions, the administration last winter notified schools that any differential consideration based on race was unconstitutional.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Sources said the driver inside wanted to beat the storm, but stayed put when rain started falling.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • Families stayed long after the match ended, gathering near stages and vendor booths while children played and supporters continued discussing Mexico’s victory.
    J.M. Banks June 12, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • In return, Iran would be relieved of the economic sanctions placed on the country.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • Of those apprehended during the administration's first seven months, more than 9,700 children saw at least one parent placed into immigration detention -- more than in previous years.
    Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Belonged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonged. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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