noun
belonging
bih-LO-ngihng
noun
1
The feeling of being accepted and comfortable within a group or place.
"Joining the choir gave her a real sense of belonging."
2
In the plural, personal possessions.
"Please gather your belongings before we land."
How to Use Belonging
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the feeling of fitting in somewhere, or (usually plural) someone’s personal possessions.
Common mistake
Meaning "possessions," it’s almost always plural — "belongings," not "a belonging."
Common pairings
personal belongings
sense of belonging
Word Forms
belongings plural
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Joining the choir gave her a real sense of _____.
Etymology
Formed from "belong" plus the suffix "-ing."