Phrasal verbs "belong to" vs "come to"

Differences between belong to and come to

Belong to is used to indicate ownership or membership, while come to is used to describe the total amount of something, or to reach a conclusion or decision.

Meanings and Definitions: belong to vs come to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Belong to

• 1. Be a member.

  He BELONGS TO a secret society.

• 2. Be connected to a time, place, belief, thing, etc.

  Their ideas BELONG TO the nineteenth century and seem old - fashioned now.

Come to

• 1. Become conscious, wake up from anaesthetic.

  She CAME TO an hour after the operation.

• 2. Result in.

  The two men started arguing but they soon CAME TO blows and started fighting in earnest.

Usage Examples: belong to, come to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

belong to

Example

She belongs to a book club that meets every month.

Example

He belongs to a secret society.

come to

Example

When will he come to after the surgery?

Example

She comes to quickly after fainting.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Belong to

be the property of

To be owned or possessed by someone or something.

Example

The car is the property of my brother, but he lets me borrow it sometimes.

be a member of

To be part of a group or organization.

Example

She is a member of the local theater group and performs in their productions regularly.

be affiliated with

To be associated or connected with a particular group or organization.

Example

The company is affiliated with several international partners to expand its global reach.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Come to

add up to

To equal a certain amount or total.

Example

The cost of the repairs adds up to more than the value of the car, so it's not worth fixing.

amount to

To reach a certain level or degree, or to have a particular effect or result.

Example

His constant lateness amounted to a warning from his boss, who was losing patience.

come to a decision

To reach a conclusion or make a choice after careful consideration or discussion.

Example

After hours of debate, the committee came to a decision on the new policy proposal.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “belong”

• belong with

Phrasal Verbs with “come”

• come forth with
• come around to
• come down on
• come along
• come in

Phrasal Verbs with “to”

• look forward to
• come to
• see to
• key to
• cater to

Differences in belong to vs come to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: belong to or come to?

In daily conversation, people use belong to more often than come to. This is because belong to is used frequently to describe possession or membership, while come to is used less frequently and in more specific contexts.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of belong to and come to

Belong to and come to are both relatively informal phrases that can be used in casual conversations. However, belong to may be slightly more formal when used in legal or business contexts to describe ownership.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of belong to and come to

The tone of belong to and come to can differ based on context. Belong to often carries a possessive or proud tone when referring to ownership or membership, while come to typically has a serious or reflective tone, especially when referring to reaching a conclusion or decision.

belong to & come to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Belong to

Synonyms

• be a member of
• be part of
• be connected to
• be associated with
• be related to
• be linked to
• be classified as

Antonyms

• be separate from
• be disconnected from
• be unrelated to
• be unconnected to
• be independent of

Come to

Synonyms

• recover
• reach
• regain consciousness
• wake up
• result in
• lead to
• arrive at

Antonyms

• faint
• collapse
• unravel
• deteriorate
• lose consciousness
• decline