belong

verb

be·​long bi-ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce belong (audio)
bē-
belonged; belonging; belongs

intransitive verb

1
a
: to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous
a dictionary belongs in every home
b
: to be in a proper situation
a man of his ability belongs in teaching
2
a
: to be the property of a person or thing
used with to
the book belongs to me
b
: to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency
usually used with to
they belong to their homeland
c
: to be a member of a club, organization, or set
usually used with to
she belongs to a country club
3
: to be an attribute, part, adjunct, or function of a person or thing
nuts and bolts belong to a car
4
: to be properly classified

auxiliary verb

chiefly Southern US and south Midland US : ought, must

Examples of belong in a Sentence

She was here for 15 years, but she never really belonged. your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them
Recent Examples on the Web But certain sugars that sit on the outside of every pig cell immediately alert the human immune system that the pig part doesn't belong. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 Dining alone, in that scenario, brings up the feeling of being an outsider, of not belonging, of feeling like the other. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Smith, who previously worked at her son’s school, was also praised for her dedication to students and fostering a sense of belonging. Melissa Noel, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024 The other works also explore themes of identity and belonging. Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 They’re helmed by people who value experimentation and self-expression over strict ideas about what does and doesn’t belong in a scone, a concha, or any number of classic pastries. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024 More than a realization of childhood dreams or a reclamation of cultural traditions, Monkey Man is Patel’s assertion of belonging. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Witnessing the natural phenomenon of the aurora borealis belongs on every traveler’s bucket list. Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 The Oscars belonged largely to theatrical-first films. Jake Coyle, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'belong.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English belongen, from be- be- + longen "to be suitable" — more at long entry 5

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of belong was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near belong

Cite this Entry

“Belong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belong. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

belong

verb
be·​long bi-ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce belong (audio)
1
: to be in a proper place
this book belongs on the top shelf
2
a
: to be the property of a person or group of persons
the watch belongs to me
b
: to be a member
belongs to our club
3
: to be a part of : be connected with : go with
the parts belonging to the clock
4
: to be classified
whales belong among the mammals

More from Merriam-Webster on belong

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