Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense belongs, present participle belonging, past tense, past participle belonged
1. verb [no cont]
If something belongs to you, you own it.
The house had belonged to her family for three or four generations. [VERB + to]
2. verb [no cont]
You say that something belongs to a particular person when you are guessing, discovering, or explaining that it was produced by or is part of that person.
The handwriting belongs to a male. [VERB + to]
They established that the body belonged to a 15-year-old girl. [VERBto noun]
3. verb [no cont]
If someone belongs to a particular group, they are a member of that group.
I used to belong to a youth club. [VERB + to]
4. verb [no cont]
If something or someone belongs in or to a particular category, type, or group, they are of that category, type, or group.
The judges could not decide which category it belonged in. [V + in/to]
I realized that he and I belonged to different worlds. [Vin/to n]
Synonyms: go with, fit into, be part of, relate to More Synonyms of belong
5. verb [no cont]
If something belongs to a particular time, it comes from that time.
The pictures belong to an era when there was a preoccupation with high society. [VERB + to]
6. verb [no cont]
If you say that something belongs to someone, you mean that person has the right to it.
...but the last word belonged to Rosanne. [VERB + to]
7. verb [no cont]
If you say that a time belongs to a particular system or way of doing something, you mean that that time is or will be characterized by it.
The future belongs to democracy. [VERB + to]
8. verb [no cont]
If a baby or child belongs to a particular adult, that adult is his or her parent or the person who is looking after him or her.
He deduced that the two children belonged to the couple. [VERB + to]
9. verb [no cont]
When lovers say that they belong together, they are expressing their closeness or commitment to each other.
I really think that we belong together. [Vtogether]
He belongs with me. [VERB + with]
10. verb [no cont]
If a person or thing belongs in a particular place or situation, that is where they should be.
You don't belong here. [VERB adverb/preposition]
This piece really belongs in the concert hall. [VERB adverb/preposition]
I'm so glad to see you back where you belong. [VERB adverb/preposition]
They need to feel they belong. [VERB]
Synonyms: go, fit in, have a home, have a rightful place More Synonyms of belong
belonginguncountable noun
...a man utterly without a sense of belonging.
Synonyms: fellowship, relationship, association, partnership More Synonyms of belong
belong in British English
(bɪˈlɒŋ)
verb(intransitive)
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. (foll byto, under, with, etc)
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
Word origin
C14 belongen, from be- (intensive) + longen; related to Old High German bilangēn to reach; see long3
belong in American English
(biˈlɔŋ; bɪˈlɔŋ)
verb intransitive
1.
to have a proper or suitable place
the chair belongs in the corner, she belongs in the movies
2.
to be part of; be related or connected (to)
3.
to be a member
with to
4.
to be owned
with to
5. Slang
to be the owner
with to
who belongs to this toothbrush?
Word origin
ME bilangen < be-, intens. + longen, to be suitable < OE langian, to belong
Examples of 'belong' in a sentence
belong
Can you still belong to a country and still be in opposition to its dominant beliefs?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's natural for people to feel a stronger sense of belonging in smaller groups.
The Sun (2016)
A second car belonging to their son was drenched in petrol but not set ablaze.
The Sun (2016)
She belongs to a family who live in a house in Barnet in north London.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I don't really belong anywhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You still belong to a neighbor church.
Christianity Today (2000)
You feel like for the first time in your life you belong with a group of people.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The club belongs to just one person.
The Sun (2006)
The only large car in the club car park belonged to the chairman.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We knew very quickly that we belonged together.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some might say rucksacks only belong on a schoolgirl.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Which fashion era do you belong in and why?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It means the poems belong to the soldiers themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They feel it would be cooler to still belong there.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To establish rapport you need to understand which of these groups your colleague belongs to.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
Time off with a partner will make you sure you belong together.
The Sun (2014)
Slightly rattled you say the dog belongs to your boyfriend.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They seem at times to belong to another era.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the mass of them still actually belonged in the place that elected them.
The Sun (2013)
They do share a strong sense of belonging to a club or school where they retain strong bonds.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
One of the ground units confirmed that the car belonged to an individual with a long criminal record.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We all arrange our homes with items in which we have invested a sense of belonging and meaning.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It appears she did not feel she belonged at her family home in Cheshire.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Family tree This is a gold photo family tree that belonged to our grandmother.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You'd think the club belonged to them.
Duncan Hamilton Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough (2007)
Three cars belonging to conservationists have been set alight, another was sabotaged.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
belong
British English: belong /bɪˈlɒŋ/ VERB
should be If something belongs somewhere, that is where it should be.
The artefact belongs in a museum.
American English: belong
Arabic: يَنْتَمِي إِلى
Brazilian Portuguese: pertencer
Chinese: 属于
Croatian: spadati
Czech: patřit
Danish: tilhøre
Dutch: thuishoren
European Spanish: pertenecer
Finnish: kuulua jollekulle tai johonkin
French: appartenir
German: gehören
Greek: ανήκω
Italian: appartenere
Japanese: 所属する
Korean: 알맞은 위치에 있다
Norwegian: høre hjemme
Polish: należeć
European Portuguese: pertencer
Romanian: a își avea locul
Russian: принадлежать
Latin American Spanish: pertenecer
Swedish: höra hemma
Thai: เป็นของ
Turkish: ait olmak
Ukrainian: належати
Vietnamese: thuộc về
British English: belong /bɪˈlɒŋ/ VERB
is owned If something belongs to you, it is yours.
The book belongs to her.
American English: belong to
Arabic: يَنْتَمِي إِلى
Brazilian Portuguese: pertencer a
Chinese: 属于
Croatian: pripadati
Czech: patřit
Danish: tilhøre
Dutch: horen bij
European Spanish: pertenecer a
Finnish: kuulua (jollekulle tai johonkin)
French: appartenir à
German: gehören (zu)
Greek: ανήκω σε
Italian: appartenere a
Japanese: ･･･のものである
Korean: (…의) 것이다
Norwegian: tilhøre
Polish: należeć do (kogoś)
European Portuguese: pertencer a
Romanian: a aparține
Russian: быть собственностью
Latin American Spanish: pertenecer a
Swedish: tillhöra
Thai: เป็นสมาชิกของ
Turkish: ait olmak
Ukrainian: бути власністю
Vietnamese: thuộc về
British English: belong /bɪˈlɒŋ/ VERB
be a member If you belong to a group of people, you are one of them.
I used to belong to the tennis club.
American English: belong
Arabic: يَنْتَسِبُ إلى
Brazilian Portuguese: pertencer
Chinese: 属于
Croatian: pripadati
Czech: patřitke komu
Danish: være medlem af
Dutch: behoren tot
European Spanish: pertenecer
Finnish: kuulua
French: appartenir à un groupe
German: angehören
Greek: ανήκω
Italian: far parte di
Japanese: ･･･に属する
Korean: 속하다
Norwegian: tilhøre
Polish: należeć
European Portuguese: pertencer
Romanian: a aparține
Russian: принадлежать
Latin American Spanish: pertenecer
Swedish: tillhöra
Thai: เป็นสมาชิก เป็นส่วนหนึ่ง
Turkish: ait olmak
Ukrainian: бути частиною
Vietnamese: thuộc
Chinese translation of 'belong'
belong
(bɪˈlɔŋ)
vi
to belong to[person]属(屬)于(於) (shǔyú) [club, society]是 ... 的成员(員) (shì ... de chéngyuán)
this book belongs here这(這)本书(書)应(應)该(該)在这(這)里(裡) (zhè běn shū yīnggāi zài zhèlǐ)
which category does it belong in?它是属(屬)于(於)哪个(個)范(範)畴(疇)的？ (tā shì shǔyú nǎge fànchóu de?)
1 (verb)
Definition
to have a proper or usual place
This piece really belongs in a museum.
Synonyms
go
The shoes go on the shoe shelf.
fit in
have a home
have a rightful place
2 (verb)
Definition
to be a part of
The judges could not decide which category it belonged in.
Synonyms
go with
fit into
be part of
relate to
attach to
be connected with
pertain to
regulations which pertain to your own specific situation
have as a proper place
Phrasal verbs
See belong to someone
See belong to something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pertain to
Definition
to have reference or relevance
regulations which pertain to your own specific situation