Phrasal verb
belong to
Meanings
to be owned by someone
to be a member of a group, organization, or family
to be in the correct place or category
Definition
“Belong to” means to be owned by someone or to be a member or part of a group or place.
“Belong to” is used to say who owns something, such as an object or animal. It can also mean that someone is a member of a group, organization, or family. In another common use, it describes where something has its correct place or category.
Examples
- This jacket belongs to me, not to the hotel.
- Do these headphones belong to you?
- That bicycle belongs to him, so please don’t move it.
- The old photos belong to our family, and we keep them in a box.
- These files belong to the history project, not the science one.
Common mistake
Learners often say “belong with” when they mean ownership, but for ownership the correct form is “belong to.”
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.