cling

1 of 2

verb

ˈkliŋ 

clung ˈkləŋ  ; clinging

intransitive verb

1

a

: to hold together

b

: to adhere as if glued firmly

The shirt clung to his wet shoulders.

c

: to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously

The kitten clung to the narrow branch.

2

a

: to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence

he clung to his friends for support

b

: to remain or linger as if resisting complete spreading or scattering

The odor clung to the room for hours.

clinger

ˈkliŋ-ər 

noun

cling

2 of 2

noun

plural clings

1

: an act or instance of clinging : adherence

2

: clingstone

3

: a sheet of material (such as plastic or vinyl) designed to adhere to a flat surface by static electricity and often printed with an image or message

When it's time for a new look, simply peel off the clings and store them away for another day.

—Lorna Hordos

Synonyms

Verb

• adhere
• cleave
• hew
• stick

Noun

• adherence
• adhesion
• bonding

Choose the Right Synonym for cling

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 cling in a Sentence

Verb

The children clung together under the little umbrella waiting for the storm to pass.

a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Noun

for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Circling his collarbones and chest, a pearl and diamond necklace clings to his skin. —Essence, 5 Nov. 2024

Lila clings on to Lenù’s youngest daughter, and Lenù lets her, leaving Imma upstairs for as long as the next morning. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

The point of view has shifted but the temptation to speak in bulldozing generalizations—to dismiss entire populations as inherently backwards and violent—clings like a wet sock. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 June 2024

To deactivate the cling, swipe a dryer sheet on the problem surface areas. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English clingan; akin to Old High German klunga tangled ball of thread

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cling

• cling film
• static cling

Kids Definition

cling

verb

ˈkliŋ

clung

ˈkləŋ

; clinging

ˈkliŋ-iŋ

1

: to stick to as if glued

2

: to hold or hold on tightly

clung desperately to the ladder

3

: to remain close : be dependent

clings to the family