belonging 1 of 2

noun

bi-ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce belonging (audio)
Definition of belongingnext
1
as in intimacy
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship the warm welcome they received from the community gave them a sense of belonging

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in possession
belongings plural transportable items that one owns packed up all their belongings and moved across the country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

belonging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of belong
1
as in staying
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 pertaining
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 belonging
Noun
At its center is Babe Bunyan, a towering, enigmatic axman whose search for identity and belonging drives the story toward an explosive conclusion. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 Some of the long time lag reflected the vagaries and limitations of travel in the mid-19th century, when moving family, servants, and belongings via horse and buggy in the winter months made a longer period necessary. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
There’s a difference between a genuine sense of belonging and performing to keep up with appearances, Sagittarius. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 The rookies on defense have shown signs of belonging in the early going. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belonging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonging
  1. intimacy
  2. possession
  3. staying
  4. pertaining
  5. familiarity
  6. things
  7. going
  8. kinship
Noun
  • People think of intimacy in a romantic sense, but the relationships artists have with the people in their corner in the industry is also really intimate.
    — Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The #MeToo movement in 2017 changed Hollywood’s approach to love scenes, providing greater protections to performers through intimacy coordinators.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimacy
Noun
  • Mayor Shiro Suzuki said that while some countries argue the possession of nuclear weapons helps deter potential attackers, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had demonstrated that humans can cross the line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • His co-conspirator, San Francisco resident Micah-Luc Almeida, 47, was sentenced to three years in federal prison after being charged with possession with intent to distribute MDA.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of possession
Verb
  • And staying socially and mentally engaged by participating in hobbies, learning new skills, and maintaining relationships with family and friends are all ways to keep the body and brain active.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Altman had been making note of Kushner’s investment in founders at splashy startups, including Slack, Instacart, and payment giant Stripe—staying loyal and lavishing them with attention even during rocky stretches.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of staying
Verb
  • The county has declined to release records pertaining to Moody’s case, despite releasing similar records in the past.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As of late afternoon Friday, there were 10 different holds and objections to the bill being expedited for a vote, with an additional eight holds pertaining to the PCSA on its own.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pertaining
Noun
  • Establishing that sense of familiarity requires time spent playing and training together, something made more difficult by a constant carousel of new signings.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Post-Covid, of course, this instead plays as a fantastical spin on an experience still fresh in everyone’s minds — a familiarity that Louis Leterrier‘s film, all too aptly premiering on Netflix, uses to its claustrophobic advantage.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of familiarity
Noun
  • The City of Atlanta and Fulton County’s Board of Commissioners have been trading negotiations over the sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, and things have started to get ugly.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The month of August offers some respite, a chance to reflect and reset before September kicks things into gear once more.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of things
Verb
  • Remember that the most amount of benefit occurs when going from none or little exercise to just a bit more.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The new order also puts a focus on Latino voters, with Nevada going second in the line-up, after Democrats lost ground with the key demographic in the 2024 presidential election.
    — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of going
Noun
  • Oblivion is just one step away, and kinship, whether by blood or affinity, is redefined for a modern world in which traditional safety nets have been rent asunder.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • People thought the rapper’s distinctively nasal voice had developed an unlikely kinship with Morrissey.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of kinship

Browse Nearby Words

belonged
belonging
belongings
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Cite this Entry

“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonging. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of belonging for Spanish Speakers

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