belonging
belonging Lexical Profile
belonging Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A movable item of personal property or an article that one owns (usually used in the plural).
"Passengers were reminded to collect all of their personal belongings before exiting the train."
An affinity for a place or situation, or a secure feeling of being accepted, valued, and included as a natural member of a group or community.
"Joining the campus choir gave the new student a strong sense of belonging."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to emotional affinity or social acceptance, 'belonging' is an uncountable noun (e.g., 'a sense of belonging'); when referring to physical property or personal effects, it is almost exclusively used in the plural form 'belongings'.
• Rhymes for belonging
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from the verb 'belongen' (combining the intensive prefix 'be-' with 'longen', meaning 'to go along with' or 'pertain to', from Old English 'gelang') plus the noun suffix '-ing'.