adhere

verb

ad·​here ad-ˈhir How to pronounce adhere (audio)
əd-
adhered; adhering

intransitive verb

1
: to hold fast or stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or fusing
The stamp failed to adhere to the envelope.
2
: to give support or maintain loyalty
adhere to traditional values
3
: to bind oneself to observance
adhere to the rules
4

transitive verb

: to cause to stick fast
The paper had been adhered to the wall.
Choose the Right Synonym for adhere

stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached.

stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Examples of adhere in a Sentence

The stamp failed to adhere. everyone started calling her “Cookie” when she was little and the name adhered
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Dredge chicken, one piece at a time, in panko, pressing to adhere panko to mayonnaise. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Feb. 2025 Sprinkle chicken with flour mixture until evenly coated, pressing to adhere; set aside. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025 And, like most things, kids are likely to adhere most closely to attitudes held within the family. Sarah Bregel, Parents, 10 Dec. 2024 That’s in large part because, while hard-partying Khadija has socially integrated via a secular, Westernized lifestyle, her shy, quiet daughter has responded by adhering ever more devoutly and stringently to her Muslim faith — vulnerable to the social-media grooming tactics of jihadist recruiters. Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adhere

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adhérer, going back to Old French ahérer, borrowed from Latin adhaerēre "to cling, stick (to), attach oneself, keep close (to a person)," from ad- ad- + haerēre "to be closely attached, stick" — more at hesitate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of adhere was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Adhere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adhere. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

adhere

verb
ad·​here ad-ˈhi(ə)r How to pronounce adhere (audio)
əd-
adhered; adhering
1
: to stay loyal (as to a cause or promise)
2
: to stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or melting
3
: to agree to observe
adhere to the rules

Medical Definition

adhere

verb
ad·​here ad-ˈhi(ə)r, əd- How to pronounce adhere (audio)
adhered; adhering

intransitive verb

1
: to hold fast or stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or fusing
a gauze bandage adhering to the wound
2
: to become joined (as in pathological adhesion)
the lung sometimes adheres to the pleura

transitive verb

: to cause to stick fast
adherence noun

More from Merriam-Webster on adhere

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!