adhere
Americanverb (used without object)
-
adheres,
present (3rd person singular)
-
adhered,
past participle, past
-
adhering
present participle
-
to stay attached; stick fast; cleave; cling (usually followed byto ).
The mud adhered to his shoes.
-
Physics, Chemistry. (of two or more dissimilar substances) to be united by a molecular force acting in the area of contact.
-
to be devoted in support or allegiance; be attached as a follower or upholder (usually followed byto ).
to adhere to a party.
-
to hold closely or firmly (usually followed byto ).
to adhere to a plan.
-
Obsolete. to be consistent.
verb (used with object)
-
adheres,
present (3rd person singular)
-
adhered,
past participle, past
-
adhering
present participle
verb
-
(usually foll by to) to stick or hold fast
-
(foll by to) to be devoted (to a political party, cause, religion, etc); be a follower (of)
-
(foll by to) to follow closely or exactly
adhere to the rules
Synonym Usage
See stick 2.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
adheresimple
-
adheressimple
-
have adheredperfect
-
has adheredperfect
-
am adheringprogressive
-
are adheringprogressive
-
is adheringprogressive
-
have been adheringperfect progressive
-
has been adheringperfect progressive
Past
-
adheredsimple
-
had adheredperfect
-
was adheringprogressive
-
were adheringprogressive
-
had been adheringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of adhere
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin adhērēre for Latin adhaerēre ( ad- ad- + haerēre “to stick, cling”), perhaps via Middle French adhérer
Explanation
If you don't want monkey droppings to adhere to the sole of your shoe, watch where you’re walking. Maybe if you'd adhere, or stick to, the zoo rules and stay on the walking path, you wouldn't have to worry about it. Adhere is from the 15th-century French verb meaning "to stick." Things that are sticky will adhere, or attach, to surfaces and stay there, whether you want them to or not; in other words, they're adhesive, an adjective that comes from the same Latin source as the French verb. When a person chooses to adhere to something, it is more of a choice to stick with it or agree to abide by rules or guidelines. You can also adhere by being loyal, as when you adhere to the high moral standards or behavior expected of some organization.
Vocabulary lists containing adhere
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“We strive to set the highest standards for pay and we require that all supply chain partners adhere to our code of conduct. Furthermore, Shein works with auditors to ensure compliance,” the company said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
"In situations where soldiers fail to adhere to IDF orders, the incidents are thoroughly reviewed, and disciplinary actions are implemented accordingly", it added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
He also said Meta’s own board of directors would have more of a say over the safety criteria its models adhere to in the future.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
A dissent by presiding Justice Alison Tucher concluded the majority misread the proposition, which she said must adhere to the state’s civil rights laws.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
She, too, has a schedule to adhere to.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
It has remained independent from the largely taxpayer-funded homeless service system that adheres to the housing-first model that prioritizes permanent housing without preconditions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
"Our nation currently adheres to the 'three non-nuclear principles,'" she said in response to a direct question from Tanaka, without discussing what she might do next.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
“The Avcon Jet Group strictly adheres to EU and U.S. sanctions laws,” the company said in an email.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
But the main reason is that Gorsuch adheres to a specific philosophy in how to read the law, called textualism.
From Slate ● May 13, 2026
Nonviolent passive resistance is effective as long as your opposition adheres to the same rules as you do.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
For much of history, presidents adhered to them, including by seeking approval from Congress before accepting gifts from foreign states and foreign leaders.
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026
It remained to be seen if the guidance would be adhered to on Saturday, with the shrine saying staff would "provide guidance" at the entrance to those "unaware".
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
The day was sticky enough that the plastic adhered to my bare shoulder.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
Some members haven’t always adhered to the group’s quotas, and have at times been critical of Saudi Arabia’s approach to market management—whereby it adjusts production to influence oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
The flutes were shining black to brown, and only a few small barnacles adhered to the shell.
From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck
This legislative body needs to deliver results, not fail while adhering to a prohibitive process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Retaining that approachable, homespun persona while adhering to the sartorial conventions and expectations of Westminster will be a challenge for Burnham.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
That’s why farms emphasize safety rules for workers like wearing shoe covers and adhering to strict handwashing requirements.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Bankers must look the part without standing out, adhering to codes for everything from their suits and watches to their shoes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Unconsciously Milton was adhering to the Greek custom of not shaving after a death in the family.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
