belong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "belong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate possession, association, or membership within a group or place. Example: "I feel like I truly belong in this community, where everyone supports each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nine belong to a parliamentary association that wants the teaching of history in schools to give a better gloss to Japan's militarist era".

The New York Times

You belong.

The New York Times

Iman, who considers herself to be among the empowered women in Egypt, believes that when the temporary government was put together, it "brought to parliament a few individuals whose beliefs belong to the medieval century".

The Guardian

Earlier this week, Valls said the removal of a person's nationality "is a legitimate question that arises regarding the consequences to which a person exposes themselves when they decide to attack the nation to which they belong because they were born there or have been accepted there".

The Guardian

We should show our own strength and belief in the values of democracy and tolerance, and above all we should demonstrate that the future, however hard the path to it is, does not, and never will, belong to fanatics but will be with those who believe that we should live in peace with each other, whatever our race, nation, colour or religion.

The Guardian

It would be only one of a series of moments in which all those connected with Falkirk would experience the realisation that the biggest day of the season would belong to the other fellow.

The Guardian - Sport

At first glance, it's an unremarkable red brick warehouse, one of a handful on Chicago's west side that used to belong to Sears Roebuck, complete with roll-up aluminum doors.

The Guardian

Now, years later, I can see that what I really wanted was to belong to an elite and rarefied group.

The Guardian - Books

Most MEPs belong to wider parliamentary groupings within the European parliament, with the winner becoming the most likely to have their candidate selected in the key role of European Commission President.

The Guardian

The funds belong to investors who are banks, pension funds and insurance funds.

The Guardian - Business

"My son," he added, "is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don't understand what he's doing there".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "belong", ensure the preposition 'to' follows it when indicating association or ownership: 'This book belongs to her'.

Common error

Avoid omitting the preposition 'to' after "belong" when expressing association or ownership. Saying 'This belongs me' is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is 'This belongs to me'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "belong" is as a verb, indicating ownership, membership, or proper placement. As shown in Ludwig, it commonly expresses a connection or association to a group or entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "belong" is a versatile verb used to indicate ownership, membership, or proper placement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While "belong" is generally followed by the preposition 'to' when expressing association or ownership, alternative phrases like "be a member of" or "be part of" offer semantically similar options. Remember to avoid omitting 'to' after "belong" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be part of

Highlights being included or integrated within a larger entity or group.

be a member of

Emphasizes membership or affiliation within a group or organization.

be affiliated with

Indicates a formal connection or association, often in a professional context.

have a place in

Focuses on having a designated spot or role within a context.

be associated with

Suggests a connection or relationship, often implying a shared characteristic or purpose.

be included in

Indicates being encompassed or contained within a larger set or category.

be connected to

Suggests a link or association with something or someone.

be owned by

Focuses on the state of being possessed by someone or something.

be the property of

Emphasizes ownership or possession of an object or entity.

be assigned to

Highlights being designated or allocated to a specific role or category.

FAQs

How do I use "belong" in a sentence?

You can use "belong" to indicate ownership (e.g., 'This book belongs to me'), membership (e.g., 'I belong to a club'), or placement (e.g., 'These items belong in the attic').

What can I say instead of "belong"?

You can use alternatives like "be a member of", "be part of", or "be associated with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "belong to" or "belong with"?

"Belong to" is generally the correct phrasing when indicating ownership, membership, or association. "Belong with" is less common, but can be appropriate when indicating compatibility or suitability: 'This piece belongs with that set'.

What's the difference between "belong" and "relate"?

"Belong" implies ownership, membership, or placement, while "relate" suggests a connection or association. For example, 'This car belongs to me' (ownership), and 'These concepts relate to each other' (association).