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.
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Recent Examples of belonging
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Bags stuffed with Iguaran's belongings leaned against a wall next to the hammock.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Research shows belonging is the basis for thriving – whether that is student degree completion or employee retention.
—Christopher Whitt, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belonging
Noun
Eighty Black residents of Portsmouth packed their belongings and headed north, hoping to resettle in a less hostile part of Ohio.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Bags stuffed with Iguaran's belongings leaned against a wall next to the hammock.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Psychological science tells us that belonging and optimism are key to well-being.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Research shows belonging is the basis for thriving – whether that is student degree completion or employee retention.
—Christopher Whitt, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belonging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonging
Noun
-
The intimacy of all her personal relationships lend meaning to whatever look Moore finds herself in.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The couple appears opposite Jason Isaacs and Kate Dickie for a chilly descent into the instability of intimacy, making a buzzy, fierce first impression on the film festival circuit last year.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 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
-
The town of Wellington is where many men who are unhoused in Fort Collins are staying their nights of late.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
For me, that translates to modernizing with intention and staying committed to a growth mindset by continuously learning, taking on new challenges, and surrounding myself with people who elevate my thinking.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
9 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
-
Where the image of Hussein communicated consequence through visual degradation, the image of Maduro diffuses consequence through familiarity, structuring interpretation not through rupture, but through normalization.—
Debbie Millman,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The veteran correspondent and author volunteered to go the chaotic scene because of his personal connection and familiarity with the area.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, Chuba Hubbard’s calf injury in the second quarter of the season opened things up for Dowdle to emerge.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Jeff Klaiber took those things and molded Lehman into an Olympian, at times pushing boundaries and pushing Lehman to the brink.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the actor didn't think the story of his character on all five of the Netflix series' seasons, Will Byers, and Will's longtime friend, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), had been fully wrapped up going into the final episode.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Young was remarkably efficient, throwing three TD passes of 30-plus yards and going 15-for-20 for 206 yards.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His choice to so closely blend his personality with his career resembles a lyricist writing diaristic songs, encouraging a sense of kinship between him and his audience.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Largely transactional, its partnerships are not grounded in moral obligation or historical kinship.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonging. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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