Belong (Verb)
Meaning 1
Be suitable or acceptable; "This student somehow doesn't belong".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The long, flowy dress doesn't belong in a business meeting.
- That song doesn't belong in this movie, it disrupts the atmosphere.
- A clown at a funeral just doesn't belong.
- She was wearing flip flops to the formal event and it was clear she didn't belong.
- This painting with a cartoon style doesn't belong in an Impressionist art exhibition.
Meaning 2
Be a part or adjunct; "the uniform looks like it belonged to a museum collection"; "These pages don't belong".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The antique vase belongs in the living room, not the kitchen.
- These clothes don't belong in a school setting.
- The keys on the counter don't belong to anyone in my family.
- His talents as a singer belong on a professional stage.
- The old records belong in a historical music archive.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
Be owned by; be in the possession of; "This book belongs to me".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- This book belongs to me because I purchased it yesterday.
- The keys belong to my sister, she's the owner of the car.
- The antique vase belongs to the museum and they're looking for a buyer.
- That expensive watch belongs to my grandfather, I'm just borrowing it.
- The rights to the song belong to the original composer's heirs.
Related Words
Meaning 4
Be rightly classified in a class or category; "The whales belong among the mammals".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- Trees belong among the most important organisms on our planet.
- Cats belong among the most popular household pets in the world.
- Dinosaurs belong among a group of reptiles known as archosaurs.
- Electric guitars belong among the most popular instruments in rock music.
- Sharks belong among the top predators in the ocean.
Meaning 5
Be in the right place or situation; "Where do these books belong?"; "Let's put health care where it belongs--under the control of the government"; "Where do these books go?".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- These shoes belong on the shoe rack not on the living room floor.
- The equipment should go back to the store where it belongs.
- She felt like she didn't belong in the competitive corporate environment.
- Put this file where it belongs in the company's digital archive system.
- This artwork belongs in a museum where it can be admired by the public.
Synonyms
Meaning 6
Be a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc. (of a group, organization, or place); "They belong to the same political party".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- Her ancestors belong to a tribe that has been living in the forest for centuries.
- The association members belong to a prestigious group of academics and researchers worldwide.
- These paintings belong to the collection of a famous art gallery in Europe.
- The island's residents belong to a close-knit community that looks out for one another.
- The new employees belong to the company's latest intake of graduates and trainees.