adhere

[ad-heer]

verb (used without object)

adhered, adhering 

1. to stay attached; stick fast; cleave; cling (usually followed byto ).

   The mud adhered to his shoes.

   Antonyms: loosen, part

2. Physics, Chemistry.,  (of two or more dissimilar substances) to be united by a molecular force acting in the area of contact.

3. to be devoted in support or allegiance; be attached as a follower or upholder (usually followed byto ).

   to adhere to a party.

4. to hold closely or firmly (usually followed byto ).

   to adhere to a plan.

5. Obsolete.,  to be consistent.

verb (used with object)

adhered, adhering 

1. to cause to adhere; make stick.

   Glue will adhere the tiles to the wallboard.

adhere

/ ədˈhɪə /

verb

1. (usually foll by to) to stick or hold fast

2. (foll by to) to be devoted (to a political party, cause, religion, etc); be a follower (of)

3. (foll by to) to follow closely or exactly

   adhere to the rules

Other Word Forms

• adherable adjective
• adherer noun
• preadhere verb (used without object)
• adherence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adhere¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin adhērēre for Latin adhaerēre ( ad- ad- + haerēre “to stick, cling”), perhaps via Middle French adhérer

Word History and Origins

Origin of adhere¹

C16: via Medieval Latin adhērēre from Latin adhaerēre to stick to

Synonym Study

See stick ².

Example Sentences

The media regulator has published guidelines designed to make the internet safer for women and girls - and threatened to make it "absolutely clear to the public" which platforms are not adhering to them.

Read more on BBC

But in the following months, executives observed that chatbots, in long conversations, are less likely to adhere to safety guidelines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unlike the 1960s, teams must adhere to a salary cap and players can take full advantage of free agency.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They rode to work in Rolls-Royces and adhered to a Protestant ethic of noblesse oblige.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The review found Lloyd’s “internal processes had not been fully adhered to in respect of a prior matter,” the statement said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• comply 
• heed 
• obey 
• observe 
• stand by