belly 1 of 2

noun

ˈbe-lē How to pronounce belly (audio)
Definition of bellynext
1
as in stomach
a need or desire for food as dinnertime approached he could think only of his belly

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2
as in corporation
an enlarged or bulging abdomen worked hard to get rid of his belly in time to attend his class reunion

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3
as in abdomen
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis a baby with a round little belly

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4
as in soul
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions in my belly I knew that he wasn't telling the truth, as the details of his story just didn't add up

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belly

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the sails slowly bellied as the wind picked up

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2
as in to snake
to move slowly with the body close to the ground recruits were forced to belly over the obstacle course under simulated enemy fire

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belly
Noun
At the conclusion of the sub-orbital flight, the Starship was expected fall back into the atmosphere belly first. — William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025 The witness demonstrated that Fielder was able to raise the gun in both hands despite being handcuffed and connected to a belly chain. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025 Otherwise, he's been improving and enjoying the rest of his golden years, especially his belly rubs. — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025 The filmmaker’s high-profile doc delves into the belly of Naples, which is known for its resilience, crime and creative energy, partly by knocking on people’s doors. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for belly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly
  1. stomach
  2. abdomen
  3. soul
  4. protrude
  5. snake
  6. hunger
  7. fat
  8. heart
Noun
  • While Hill was lying flat on his stomach in the street, Torres pressed his palm onto the back of his neck, the footage shows.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Respiratory problems: Regurgitated stomach acids that reach the back of your throat can be inhaled and cause irritation in your lungs and airways.
    — Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • People with this body type have a naturally slow metabolism and a shorter and wider bone structure with a larger abdomen (belly) and hips.1 Endomorphs tend to have shorter arms and legs.
    — Laura Schober, Health, 4 Feb. 2025
  • The other victim, a 17-year-old who was shot in his right abdomen, was taken also to St. Barnabas in stable condition.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of abdomen
Noun
  • Grace has the most challenging role here, which is to let audiences see the insecure soul peering out from within this new body.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The last game in front of the old soul of the ground was the FA Youth Cup final of 1992.
    — Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of soul
Verb
  • Its most significant physical feature is a segmented tread protruding from its back, and extending to the front of its face.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • In September 2024, suspect Ryan Routh, 59, was detained after Secret Service agents spotted a rifle protruding from a bush while Trump was playing on the golf course.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of protrude
Verb
  • Cracks, 15 feet long and several feet wide, snaked up the sides of buildings.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Ramadan in Gaza In Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, AP video showed a long table set for the breaking of the day’s Ramadan fast, snaking through the ruins and lit by strings of lights as the sky darkened.
    — David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of snake
Noun
  • Thank wars, confusion and a hunger for sunlight Opinion Opinion: Pinnacol Assurance needs changes to continue workers’ compensation coverage at a competitive rate Pinnacol Assurance is currently standing at a crossroads.
    — The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Head coach Connor Brickley credited his team’s drive and hunger to return to TD Garden as motivating factors.
    — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of hunger
Noun
  • Clinical trials demonstrate this: people who took semaglutides for about 17 months lost about 16% of their total body fat (an average of 9.7 kg, or about 21 lbs).2 Clinical trials of Mounjaro and Zepbound, the brand names for tirzepatide, produced similar results.
    — Helen Carefoot, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Similar to liposuction, the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) involves harvesting fat from areas such as the stomach, thighs, or hips and transferring it to the buttocks.
    — Essence, Essence, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of fat
Noun
  • Walls display Black History Month decorations, a tree made of pink paper hearts and posters of historical figures like the Wright brothers and George Washington Carver.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
  • At the center of it all, John Summit — tanned, smiling, his shirt unbuttoned to a chest level that suggested a regular workout routine — threw up heart hands while manning the cockpit of CDJs before him.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of heart

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Cite this Entry

“Belly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on belly

Nglish: Translation of belly for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about belly

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