belonging

American  

[bih-lawng-ing, -long-] / bɪˈlɔŋ ɪŋ, -ˈlɒŋ- /

noun

1. something that belongs.

2. belongings, possessions; goods; personal effects.

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belonging British  

/ bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ /

noun

1. secure relationship; affinity (esp in the phrase a sense of belonging )

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Other Word Forms

• unbelonging adjective

Etymology

Origin of belonging

First recorded in 1595–1605; belong + -ing ¹

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

Researchers have found that even small social interactions can foster a sense of belonging.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

In Bengal, fish is more than food - it is the bloodstream of the cuisine, woven into memory, ritual and everyday life, a marker of both identity and belonging.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Iran is believed to still possess thousands of ballistic missiles, and dozens of fast-attack boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could be used to attack nearby vessels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

“We are determined to learn from what happened, and to ensure inclusion and belonging for all is meaningful in practice as well as in principle,” the statement concluded.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

“The infamous New Orleans abode belonging to the Devil’s daughter went up in flames earlier, in what Unremarkable officials think was a gas leak,” he says.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas