easy
These books belong on the blue shelf.
What does Belong mean?
Belong means to fit or feel accepted, or to be owned by, joined to, or part of something.
Dictionary definition
To be in the right place or fit a situation; to feel accepted; or, with to, to be owned by, be a member or part of, or be classified with something.
Example sentences
Belong in a sentence
medium
Mina felt that she belonged on the robotics team.
hard
A whale belongs to the mammal group, but this model whale belongs to our science teacher.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Belong
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What can belong mean?
Belong can describe a suitable place, acceptance, ownership, membership, connection, or classification.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses belong to show classification?
Here, belong to tells which scientific group includes frogs.
Practice 3
What do belongings mean?
Belongings is a plural noun for possessions, while belonging can name a feeling of acceptance.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Belong
Voice settings
Sounds like
bih · long · strongest beat: long
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordBelong.
Partverb.
MeaningBelong means to fit or feel accepted, or to be owned by, joined to, or part of something.
ExampleExample: These books belong on the blue shelf.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- bih · long
- Strongest beat
- long
- Ending
- long
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on long.
Your turn
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Nice work—you practiced belong.
Synonyms
Words like Belong
fitUse when someone or something suits a place, group, or situation.
be owned byUse only for the belong to sense that shows ownership.
be a member ofUse when belong to names membership in a group or organization.
Antonym review
Does Belong have an opposite?
Belong has no single opposite across its place, acceptance, ownership, membership, part, and classification senses. Exclude contrasts with accepting someone, and misplace contrasts with putting something where it belongs, but neither is a blanket antonym.
Synonym practice
Want to practice belong synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The puzzle piece seemed to belong in the corner," then compare close word choices. Practice belong synonyms.
Word family
Belong word family
Base word
belong
verb
belongs
The present-tense form used with he, she, or it.
verb
belonged
The past-tense and past-participle form.
noun
belonging
The feeling of being accepted as part of a place or group.
noun
belongings
Personal things that someone owns; this plural noun has a distinct meaning.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Belong
Hint for students
Check the words after belong: in or with often points to a place, while to can show ownership, membership, connection, or classification.
Common mix-up
Belong is normally intransitive: say that something belongs to a person, not that a person belongs an object. Belonging is a feeling, while belongings are possessions.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort sentence cards into place, acceptance, ownership, membership, part, and classification meanings, then explain the clue phrase in each sentence.
Teacher prompt
Compare belong in, belong to, and feel that you belong. Ask whether each example shows a suitable place, ownership, membership, classification, or acceptance.
Learning activities
Practice Belong and explore more word games
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