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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in possession
belongings plural
transportable items that one owns
packed up all their belongings and moved across the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
California authorities have announced an arrest in a 35-year-old cold case in which a mother mysteriously vanished from her home, leaving behind her young child and all of her belongings.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
Creating a moment of belonging where there was none before.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belonging
Noun
When institutions hold on to Native people’s bodies and belongings for decades, fail to track them fully and then delay their return, the issue is not only administrative.
—Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
California authorities have announced an arrest in a 35-year-old cold case in which a mother mysteriously vanished from her home, leaving behind her young child and all of her belongings.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Most of all, life at Kukuiʻula allows residents to experience the feelings of belonging, family togetherness, and ties to nature that permeate Hawaiian culture.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
Creating a moment of belonging where there was none before.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belonging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonging
Noun
-
This series has been distinguished by its intimacy, which comes with having access to the house in which Heuermann lived (and killed), and on-camera interviews with his ex-wife (who divorced Heuermann following his arrest) and his daughter.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Their rekindled relationship illustrates the dissonance of familial expectations and intimacy with a parent one barely knows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In college, possession is awarded to one team or the other based on an alternating possession arrow, but at the pro level the players involved in the call actually have to play out the jump to resume the game.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The governor faces federal charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, along with another conspiracy count.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Avoiding injury, staying physically active, managing your weight, and quitting nicotine all support knee health.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
4 May 2026
-
Boost your circadian rhythm by getting morning sunlight, staying active during the day to feel physically tired and giving up afternoon coffee to promote deeper, restorative sleep.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Kolasinski has disputed this allegation, saying that his client was not a gang member and that, while Hernández had been accused of murder in El Salvador, he was acquitted of any charges pertaining to that case.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The gala’s funds support acquisitions of garments and accessories, but also the institute’s reference library, which holds over 800 periodicals and 1,500 designer files pertaining to the history of fashion and clothing, dating back to the sixteenth century.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
And despite its familiarity to nearly anybody who has taken middle school English over the past eight decades, the story still retains the power to shock.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
-
Porter, 52, is a UC Irvine consumer law professor and former Orange County congresswoman who increased her statewide name familiarity by running unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2024.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
As the Moon moves through your 2nd House of Finances, clear terms help prevent confusion and keep things fair.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Rodriguez is happy to see things coming together as conference play gets into full swing.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most of her friends didn’t have dates, though Maple was going with a girl named Sasha, and Sloane was going with Leo, a boy from their grade.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
These kind of abuses mean that the department isn't going after oil companies that are price gouging.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
He was warmly welcomed in the chamber, and much of his speech focused on the kinship and history between the US and the UK.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Because at its core, this legal drama that revolves around artificial intelligence is actually rooted in the very human impulses of kinship, greed, betrayal, and power.—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonging. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
