belonging
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
Most of that is due to the destruction of goods belonging to vendors, rather than Wildberries’ buildings themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The AI lab behind the Claude chatbot is also in talks for a deal worth billions to use infrastructure belonging to Facebook and Instagram parent Meta, according to media reports.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
“A sense of belonging where students feel valued, connected and supported.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
That sense of belonging and safety has now been badly shaken, and I'm not alone in this.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Wrapping my arms around my waist against the cold, I cross the street to the house belonging to Mrs. Veenstra and stand on the steps, my back facing Mrs. Janssen's home.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
Residents have been able to collect belongings from their homes on an appointment basis.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Oulghazzi fled with his wife and daughter without being able to take their belongings.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
They stood near the common room, wide smiles plastered on their faces as they watched him collect his belongings, he recalled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
A block away from the former Pfizer building, guests who had been evacuated from the Hampton Inn the day before waited on the street corner Wednesday morning to get inside to retrieve luggage and belongings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
We emptied our pillowcases passing out our few belongings among those who had to stay.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
