belly 1 of 2

noun

ˈbe-lē How to pronounce belly (audio)
Definition of bellynext
1
as in stomach
a need or desire for food as dinnertime approached he could think only of his belly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corporation
an enlarged or bulging abdomen worked hard to get rid of his belly in time to attend his class reunion

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3
as in abdomen
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis a baby with a round little belly

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4
as in soul
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions in my belly I knew that he wasn't telling the truth, as the details of his story just didn't add up

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belly

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the sails slowly bellied as the wind picked up

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to snake
to move slowly with the body close to the ground recruits were forced to belly over the obstacle course under simulated enemy fire

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of belly
Noun
Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 That is, the fixture didn't swivel, didn't pull out, didn't spray and hit Pippin below the belly. — Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026 Starting at the bottom, stitch the fish together along the chalk line, leaving about 6 inches open along its belly. — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026 Her restaurant, Pomona, will salute the fruit during the fest with a special menu of mango spare ribs, mango ceviche and mango pork-belly cups that will be available for purchase. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly
  1. stomach
  2. fat
  3. abdomen
  4. soul
  5. protrude
  6. snake
  7. hunger
  8. paunch
Noun
  • Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, according to the CDC.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • How do your feelings about your stomach affect your daily life?
    — Margaret Cirino, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • Cook until most of the fat has rendered and the pancetta is turning golden brown.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Still, building meals around high-fiber and high-protein foods, including vegetables, fruit, lean protein, legumes, whole grains and healthy fats, can improve satiety in the long run.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fat
Noun
  • Despite surgery, however, the bullet lodged inside his abdomen was not found, and his condition suddenly deteriorated.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One plaintiff, a green card holder who lives in Chicago, said that he had been shot in the abdomen by officials under Quero Silva, an injury that left him with psychological scars and nerve damage.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of abdomen
Noun
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Rams no longer need the future Hall of Famer to be the heart and soul of their defense.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of soul
Verb
  • Anything that protrudes above the shallow, insulating snow cover is more prone to being damaged by the cold and wind or eaten by wildlife, said plant ecologist Anne Bjorkman of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Verb
  • But the real action was in line for the Breen meet and greet, which snaked across the lobby of the Regal’s mezzanine level after the second screening.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Premier League trophy was kept out of the way, not shown off, apart from the blazing cover picture in the souvenir programme which ensured queues snaking through the crowd to purchase this special memento.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • Pausing midway through a meal to check in with your hunger is a good rule of thumb, and boxing half of a meal at a restaurant to bring home can also help.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Glosson believes the biggest factor was a decline in the number of families receiving food assistance — though the need to help ease hunger is still there.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hunger
Noun
  • The hair may be grayer, the paunches a little more pronounced, and the joints a little creakier, but the Jackass promise of delivering the missing link between the Three Stooges and a snuff film remains.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
  • There is a funny thread of everyone thinking Woody’s getting a bit old – rocking a paunch and a poncho – while Buzz pines for Jessie.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Definition of paunch

Phrases Containing belly

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bellwethers
belly
bellyache
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on belly

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about belly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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