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
The apartment, however, felt different once all of her belongings arrived. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026 There are five Broderick siblings, but their eldest brother and sister ran away from the cult, and their mother was kicked out after medication was found among her belongings. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Verb
What defines the life of a Hijra is less any single act than the household itself, its obligations, its protection and its particular economy of belonging. Vogue, 1 June 2026 Management style Asked about her management approach, Thapanee said she is influenced by her parents’ emphasis on listening, respect and fostering a sense of belonging among their employees. Kevin Lim, CNBC, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for belonging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belonging
Noun
  • Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.
    James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Lyrically, the songs find the pair confronting the unknowability of adulthood all while careening between the intimacy of folk acoustics and the catharsis of electronic music.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously said Roberts had a criminal history that included a narcotics possession offense.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • Oppenheimer, 35 of Cambridge, was arrested in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in January to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The rooms The 65 rooms (including 17 suites) are subtly sumptuous, like staying at the not-so-humble home of a scion of an Istanbul dynasty.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Listening to our community and focusing on scientific innovation have been key in staying aligned with our original vision while promoting healthy skin for everyone.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Lawmakers would be wiser to focus on AI legal matters pertaining to AI emotion detection consisting of transparency, disclosure requirements, informed consent, age restrictions, auditing, commercial exploitation, and the like.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • Seeking a solution, Soriano led an effort to bring in new members in August, using a clause in California code pertaining to corporations.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Visibility drives familiarity, and familiarity drives demand.
    Jeremy Fields, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • And then there’s free-agent addition John Metchie III, who has familiarity with Bryce Young due to the two of them playing together at Alabama.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Jonathan liked to drop in on patients, ask how things were going.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • Kenny is going through her things and counts 26 black T-shirts.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Butlers here are called Aris Meehas, a historical Maldivian reference to someone assigned to serve royalty—thankfully, interactions are more easy-going than overly deferential.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • After more than five innings of the Bulldogs trailing Liberty by one, struggling to get anything going, the Georgia third baseman crushed a two-run home run to left field.
    Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Insights and kinships emerge almost unbidden—called forth through juxtaposition.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
  • In a sense, kinship leadership is not new.
    Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Belonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belonging. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on belonging

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster