Showing results for "belonging"

• present participle of belong.

belonging

American  

[bih-lawng-ing, -long-] / bɪˈlɔŋ ɪŋ, -ˈlɒŋ- /

noun

• belongings
  plural

1. 

   something that belongs.

2. belongings, possessions; goods; personal effects.

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belonging British  

/ bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ /

noun

1. secure relationship; affinity (esp in the phrase a sense of belonging )

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unbelonging
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• belongings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of belonging

First recorded in 1595–1605; belong + -ing ¹

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Explanation

Belonging is a sense of fitting in or feeling like you are an important member of a group. A really close family gives each of its members a strong sense of belonging. When you belong, you are an official part of a group ("She belongs to the French club") or you're compatible with certain people or suited to a specific place ("I just belong in nature"). A feeling of belonging describes this sense of truly fitting or meshing, especially with friends, family members, or other sympathetic folks.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

belonging belongings

But that space jaguar skirt bestowed upon me a deeper sense of belonging to Brazil than my passport ever did.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

In 2022, researchers introduced the term "altermagnets" for materials belonging to this proposed third magnetic class.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

In Finland, irregular temperatures were detected in a few smaller grocery stores belonging to the Kesko group, which said it was investigating the issue.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

In Finland, irregular temperatures had also been detected in a few smaller grocery stores belonging to the Kesko group.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

News reporters called Pinyudu a “camp,” but it was just a big, open place with no houses except a few belonging to the local Anyuak people.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

I planned a trip to New York to retrieve the few belongings I’d left there, and when I told Matt, he asked whether he could take me out on a proper date.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Her former family home was in Sherborn, Mass. From there, they packed up their belongings and relocated to a house on 26 acres in Vermont.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

The extra time gives outreach workers an opportunity to persuade people to accept services and offer them a chance to secure their belongings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers reported that images had allegedly been found among Markle's belongings at his former home in the Philippines.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

Each person is responsible for their own belongings.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

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