appertain

verb

ˌa-pər-ˈtān How to pronounce appertain (audio)
Definition of appertainnext
1
as in to belong
to be the property of a person or group of persons the doctrine that the swath of land between the Atlantic and the Pacific naturally appertained to the United States

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to pertain
to have a relation or connection list some of the things appertaining to public health

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for appertain
  1. belong
  2. pertain
  3. relate
  4. apply
Verb
  • For decades, the idea of a robot working inside an operating room belonged more to science fiction than medicine.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • These connections form an invisible architecture of care and belonging.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of belong
Verb
  • While sections pertaining to the house itself are both gripping and eerie (rooms flood, tiles rearrange, visions flicker), the real terror comes from human history.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • To successfully integrate these returnees, Damascus must empower governorates and municipalities with the resources and autonomy to solve problems pertaining to service delivery, job creation, and education in real time.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pertain
Verb
  • Neiman speculates that polyploidy and the snail’s unusual reproductive strategies are related.
    — Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Though theories implicated everyone from rival rapper Biggie Smalls to Knight’s wife Sharitha — neither of whom was ever charged in connection with the murder — investigators long suspected the killing was gang-related.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Fall Cool-season grasses benefit most from fertilizer applied in the fall.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, applying ice or using a tourniquet can worsen the effects of a venomous snakebite by slowing blood flow.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of apply
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

appends
appertain
appertained
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appertain. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All