belly
BEH-lee
Belly (noun) means the front part of the body between the chest and the hips; the stomach area. Example: “The baby giggled when her dad blew a raspberry on her belly.”
noun
1
The front part of the body between the chest and the hips; the stomach area.
"The baby giggled when her dad blew a raspberry on her belly."
"The puppy rolled over to have its belly rubbed."
"He clutched his belly after eating too much cake."
2
The rounded or bulging part of something, resembling a stomach.
"The belly of the boat was full of fish after the long day."
"The sail's belly filled with wind, and the yacht surged forward."
"The plane’s belly scraped the runway during the hard landing."
verb
1
To swell or bulge outward.
"The curtains bellied in the breeze coming through the open window."
"The tent walls bellied outward whenever a strong gust hit the campsite."
"The sail bellied out as the wind picked up."
How to use belly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe stomach area of the body, or any rounded, bulging part of an object.
Common pairings
on your belly
belly ache
belly of the plane
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like belly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- bellies
- Third person singular
- bellies
- Past tense
- bellied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baby giggled when her dad blew a raspberry on her _____.
Etymology
From Old English bielġ, meaning "bag" or "bulge" — a distant cousin of "bellows," since both descend from a root meaning "to swell up."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for belly
See all rhymes for belly →Frequently asked questions
What does “belly” mean?
The word “belly” means the front part of the body between the chest and the hips; the stomach area. In plain terms, the stomach area of the body, or any rounded, bulging part of an object.
How do you pronounce “belly”?
“Belly” is pronounced BEH-lee (/ˈbɛli/ in IPA).
How do you use “belly” in a sentence?
Here is “belly” used in a sentence: “The puppy rolled over to have its belly rubbed.”
What is another word for “belly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “belly” include abdomen, midriff, stomach, tum, tummy and tum-tum.
What part of speech is “belly”?
Depending on how it is used, “belly” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “belly” come from?
The word “belly” comes from Old English. From Old English bielġ, meaning "bag" or "bulge" — a distant cousin of "bellows," since both descend from a root meaning "to swell up.".
Is “belly” a common word?
“Belly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “belly” have?
“Belly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the front part of the body between the chest and the hips; the stomach area.
What is the difference between 'belly' and 'stomach'?
'Belly' usually refers to the outer front part of the body between the chest and hips. 'Stomach' can mean that same external area in casual speech, but strictly it is the internal organ that digests food. So the belly contains the stomach, and the words are not exactly interchangeable.
Is 'belly' a formal or informal word?
'Belly' is fairly informal and conversational. In formal, clinical, or medical contexts 'abdomen' is preferred, while 'tummy' is more childlike, leaving 'belly' comfortably in the middle for everyday use.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include belly:
