belonging 1 of 2

Definition of belongingnext

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
And actually, who is not here for a chic purse that can easily hold all of your belongings, plus a laptop, a change of clothes, and a small animal of your choosing? Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026 More than anything, the experience gave Henson a sense of belonging that had nothing to do with his last name. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
What does place say about belonging here? Tamara Southward, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026 The smell of coffee fills the room, but the real draw is belonging. Donovan X. Ramsey, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belonging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonging
Noun
  • The rooms There are just 19 rooms here—a deliberate decision to create a feeling of intimacy, and to make guests feel that Madrid, even if only for a few days, can truly be home.
    María Casbas, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026
  • His near-mimicry becomes a kind of intimacy.
    Katie Kadue, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Zubimendi won possession 12 times during that match — the most by any Arsenal player in a game this season.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Troopers also seized an unregistered gun and ammunition from Cook, who is charged with trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But putting on a tux and celebrating with an administration that is rapidly falling out of step with the global public — which their shareholders are members of — is different from staying silent.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The appeals court, however, said staying the injunction serves the public interest by preventing federal agents from hesitating while carrying out lawful duties.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • People at work have made rude comments pertaining to my hearing.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
  • In one of his first acts as mayor, Zohran Mamdani on Thursday revoked nine executive orders his predecessor, Eric Adams, issued after his federal corruption indictment, a move that undid actions pertaining to everything from antisemitism and immigration to New York City’s horse carriage industry.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In a dispatch from Minneapolis, chaun webster considers the strange familiarity of ICE and the limits of our language.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • There’s been turnover at the top of the NFL hierarchy this season, but there will be a dose of familiarity in Super Bowl LX.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But those are very different things.
    Anna Schecter, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Anything tied to the royals will always draw some interest, which actually underscores how difficult things are for Harry and Meghan, as even their titles no longer seem enough to attract audiences to lackluster projects.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • San Jose was seventh in MLS with 60 goals scored while going 11-15-8 last season.
    Mercury News, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
  • But most of its richest pleasures come down to Fiennes going balls to the wall with a truly memorable character — half lunatic and half visionary.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Wednesday's Child on CBS Colorado For more information about services for kinship care families or to learn more about the Heart Gallery, call Raise the Future at (303) 755-4756 or 1(800) 451-5246 or go to the Raise the Future website.
    Libby Smith, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Gradually, the two men gain each other’s trust, and a largely unspoken kinship emerges between them.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonging. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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