belong
verb
be·long bi-ˈlȯŋ 
bē-
belonged; belonging; belongs
intransitive verb
1
a
: to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous
a dictionary belongs in every home
b
: to be in a proper situation
a man of his ability belongs in teaching
2
a
: to be the property of a person or thing —used with to
the book belongs to me
b
: to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency —usually used with to
they belong to their homeland
c
: to be a member of a club, organization, or set —usually used with to
she belongs to a country club
3
: to be an attribute, part, adjunct, or function of a person or thing
nuts and bolts belong to a car
4
: to be properly classified
auxiliary verb
chiefly Southern US and south Midland US : ought, must
Synonyms
- go
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She was here for 15 years, but she never really belonged. your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them
Recent Examples on the Web And yet the most satisfying storylines belong to Diane’s legal partner, Liz (Audra McDonald), and protege, Marissa (Sarah Steele). 
Inkoo Kang, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Jacques and Pierre belong to the 1960s roadside attraction era, when hundreds of restaurants, gas stations, motels and muffler shops installed oversize figures—both people and animals—in front of their shops to draw attention. Clare Ansberry, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Buffalo’s best two players, quarterback Josh Allen and edge defender Von Miller, may belong in the same conversation as Jim Kelly and Bruce Davis, franchise legends who led the four Super Bowl teams. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The credit card does not belong to Calipari or anyone in his family, Willet. Caleb Stultz, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 All of them belong to a different generation from the men in the field. Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2022 The next shortest odds belong to Aaron Rodgers (+1000). Tim Bielik, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 The other two main pyramids belong to Khufu's son Khafre and grandson Menkaure. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Does something like this belong in a living room, office, or gaming den? Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Inkoo Kang, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Jacques and Pierre belong to the 1960s roadside attraction era, when hundreds of restaurants, gas stations, motels and muffler shops installed oversize figures—both people and animals—in front of their shops to draw attention. Clare Ansberry, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Buffalo’s best two players, quarterback Josh Allen and edge defender Von Miller, may belong in the same conversation as Jim Kelly and Bruce Davis, franchise legends who led the four Super Bowl teams. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The credit card does not belong to Calipari or anyone in his family, Willet. Caleb Stultz, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 All of them belong to a different generation from the men in the field. Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2022 The next shortest odds belong to Aaron Rodgers (+1000). Tim Bielik, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 The other two main pyramids belong to Khufu's son Khafre and grandson Menkaure. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Does something like this belong in a living room, office, or gaming den? Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English belongen, from be- be- + longen "to be suitable" — more at long entry 5
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing belong
Kids Definition
belong
verb
be·long bə-ˈlȯŋ
belonged; belonging
1
: to be in a proper place
This book belongs on the top shelf.
2
: to be the property of a person or group of persons
The money belongs to me.
3
: to be a part of : be connected with : go with
These pieces belong to that game.
belonged
verb
1
as in stayed
to have or be in a usual or proper place your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stayed
- went
- placed
- fitted (in)
- fit (in)
2
as in pertained
to be the property of a person or group of persons those textbooks belong to the school system and not to the students Synonyms & Similar Words
- pertained
- owned
- possessed
- appertained
- had
- held