belonging
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of belonging
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The actress also received Bafta nominations for 2004 family drama Belonging and 2005 period drama Pride And Prejudice.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2024
According to a nationally representative survey taken in 2022 using the Belonging Barometer, people are experiencing belonging ambiguity or exclusion.
From Salon • Feb. 10, 2024
Stephen Menendian is the assistant director and director of research at UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2023
Belonging, in his eyes, means treating live batting practice as if it were his major league debut.
From Washington Post • Mar. 9, 2023
Belonging in common to two; shared by both.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
