belong

American  

[bih-lawng, -long] / bɪˈlɔŋ, -ˈlɒŋ /

verb (used without object)

belongs, present (3rd person singular) belonged, past participle, past belonging present participle

1. to be in the relation of a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc. (usually followed byto ).

   He belongs to the Knights of Columbus.

2. to have the proper qualifications, especially social qualifications, to be a member of a group.

   You don't belong in this club.

3. to be proper or due; be properly or appropriately placed, situated, etc..

   Books belong in every home. This belongs on the shelf. He is a statesman who belongs among the great.

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verb phrase

1. belong to

   1. to be the property of.

      The book belongs to her.

   2. to be a part or adjunct of.

      That cover belongs to this jar.

belong British  

/ bɪˈlɒŋ /

verb

1. (foll by to) to be the property or possession (of)

2. (foll by to) to be bound to (a person, place, or club) by ties of affection, dependence, allegiance, or membership

3. to be classified (with)

   this plant belongs to the daisy family

4. (foll by to) to be a part or adjunct (of)

   this top belongs to the smaller box

5. to have a proper or usual place

   that plate belongs in the cupboard

6. informal to be suitable or acceptable, esp socially

   although they were rich, they just didn't belong

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belong Idioms  

1. see to the victor belong the spoils.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• belonging
  present
• belonged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• belong
  simple
• belongs
  simple
• have belonged
  perfect
• has belonged
  perfect
• am belonging
  progressive
• are belonging
  progressive
• is belonging
  progressive
• have been belonging
  perfect progressive
• has been belonging
  perfect progressive

Past

• belonged
  simple
• had belonged
  perfect
• was belonging
  progressive
• were belonging
  progressive
• had been belonging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will belong
  simple
• will have belonged
  perfect
• will be belonging
  progressive
• will have been belonging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of belong

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English belongen, from be- be- + longen “to belong,” verb derivative of long (adjective), Old English gelang “belonging to, dependent on”; cf. along ( def. ), long ³ ( def. )

Explanation

Things that belong to you are your property — in other words, you own them. Your prized rock collection belongs to you. There are several ways to use the verb belong. Items you buy or that are given to you belong to you. You also belong to a group of friends — you fit in, or are a member. When you feel at home somewhere, as though you're meant to be there, you also belong: "I belong in a big city!" The 14th century meaning of belong was "to go along with," from be- and longen, "to go."

Example Sentences

This was an era during which “you could just walk onto the tarmac without a ticket,” said Brendan Koerner, author of The Skies Belong to Us.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026

According to the text Jeff forwarded me, it produced an essay titled “未来不属于美国”— “The Future Does Not Belong to America.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

It was in 1983 that Jennings won his first Academy Award for the song Up Where We Belong, written for Taylor Hackford’s An Officer and a Gentleman.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2024

The “We Belong Together” and “Fantasy” pop diva said in a statement shared with The Times on Monday, “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2024

The other wall had a giant rainbow-colored papier-mâché hand, its pointer finger sticking straight out and beneath it the words You Belong scrawled in loopy neon letters.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

• apply
• exist
• fit
• reside