be ‧ long S2 W2 /bɪˈlɒŋ $ bɪˈlɒːŋ/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive not in progressive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: long 'to be suitable' (12-19 centuries) , from Old English gelang 'dependent on' ]
1 . [always + adverb/preposition] if something belongs somewhere, that is the right place or situation for it:
Put the chair back where it belongs.
belong in
an attitude that doesn’t belong in modern society
2 . if you feel you belong in a place or situation, you feel happy and comfortable in it, because you have the same interests and ideas as other people:
I worked there for five years but never really felt I belonged.
—belonging noun [uncountable] :
It’s important to have a sense of belonging (=a feeling that you are happy and comfortable somewhere) .
belong to somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . if something belongs to someone, they own it:
The book belongs to Dan.
Who does this scarf belong to?
2 . to be a member of a group or organization:
He belongs to the golf club.
3 . to be related to something or form part of it:
cars that belong to a different era
4 . to be related to or produced by a particular person:
She recognized the voice as belonging to the man who had attacked her.
5 . if a competition or period of time belongs to someone, they are the most important or successful person in it:
All the acts were good, but the evening belonged to a dance group from Moscow.