adhere
Americanverb (used without object)
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to stay attached; stick fast; cleave; cling (usually followed byto ).
The mud adhered to his shoes.
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Physics, Chemistry. (of two or more dissimilar substances) to be united by a molecular force acting in the area of contact.
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to be devoted in support or allegiance; be attached as a follower or upholder (usually followed byto ).
to adhere to a party.
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to hold closely or firmly (usually followed byto ).
to adhere to a plan.
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Obsolete. to be consistent.
verb (used with object)
verb
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(usually foll by to) to stick or hold fast
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(foll by to) to be devoted (to a political party, cause, religion, etc); be a follower (of)
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(foll by to) to follow closely or exactly
adhere to the rules
Related Words
See stick 2.
Other Word Forms
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"
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
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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.
Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of failing to adhere to the agreement.
From Barron's • May 12, 2026
They don’t adhere to a straight divide among Democrats and Republicans.
From Salon • May 6, 2026
Asked how the EU had failed to adhere to the terms of its deal with the US, Trump did not elaborate.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
The guidance for window sizing is a recommendation rather than a rule, which means builders in most of the U.K. don’t actually need to adhere to it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
Ralph began to worry lest Miss K think up a project to find out if a sock with static cling would adhere to a mouse.
From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary
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.
