belongs

verb

present tense third-person singular of belong
1
as in goes
to have or be in a usual or proper place your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in pertains
to be the property of a person or group of persons those textbooks belong to the school system and not to the students

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 belongs The connection also illustrates why Edwards believes contemporary hip-hop belongs in a district best known for the jazz musicians who made 18th & Vine internationally significant during the 20th century. — Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 Kevin Lomon belongs in the latter category, pitching briefly for the Braves in 1996 during a major league career that ultimately lasted just 12 games. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 That is true, but making costly and unnecessary wars harder to start belongs in the credit column, not the debit one. — Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026 AMSilk believes its animal-free, recyclable and biodegradable bio-silk belongs in premium denim. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 Rather than import a brand-new predator to deal with the crabs, the team is topping up a species that already belongs in Mediterranean waters. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Financial stability belongs alongside price stability and employment at the heart of the Fed’s mandate—and at times should take precedence over both. — Joao Gomes, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 Imagine Beckham being able to write one final chapter in New York, where his story began and belongs, while John Mara oversees what the Giants hope will be the resurgence of the franchise under Harbaugh. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 Amy Doukoure, an attorney with CAIR, said Wednesday that the rhetoric displayed during Tuesday night's events went beyond anti-Muslim sentiment and reflected a broader message about race and who belongs in America. — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belongs
  1. goes
  2. pertains
  3. stays
Verb
  • Driving Experience The windscreen is brief to say the least, but airflow goes right over your head.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The movie goes big on the ‘80s tropes for laughs, including over-the-top costumes and era-specific references, but the love story at its heart is timeless.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • There is no similar law that pertains to private school operators in Wisconsin.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That pertains with or without the presence of breast milk, the TSA specifies.
    — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of pertains
Verb
  • Tim Cook stays close to Apple Tim Cook became Apple’s executive chair after John Ternus succeeded him as CEO, with a $2 million annual salary and a $45 million target-value equity award.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Trailing the 2010s trilogy by long enough that a genuine pandemic happened in the interim, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stays within the continuity of those movies while introducing new characters and a further-future setting.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stays

Browse Nearby Words

belongings
belongs
beloved
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Cite this Entry

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

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