Showing results for "adhering"

• present participle of adhere.

adhering

American  

[ad-heer-ing] / ædˈhɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. attaching or staying attached; sticking, or causing something to stick, to something else.

   She worked away with a steel scraper to loosen the adhering carpet where it had been glued to the floor.

2. devoted in allegiance; attached as a follower, supporter, or member.

   Under the OECD Council decision on multinational enterprises, each adhering country must set up a National Contact Point for dispute resolution.

3. holding firmly or closely to something (often used in combination).

   Respond to all employee complaints promptly and in a professional, confidential, policy-adhering manner.

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noun

1. the act or fact of sticking, clinging, or holding closely or firmly to something.

   We can't just call for an adhering to due process—we need to actually ensure that due process happens.

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

   The adhering of the molecules of a gas on the surface of a solid is called adsorption.

3. the fact of being devoted or attached to a person or thing as a follower, member, or supporter.

   Under the law, cruising in an enemy ship intending to capture or destroy American ships is an adhering to the enemies of the United States.

Other Word Forms

• nonadhering
  adjective
• unadhering
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of adhering

First recorded in 1545–55; adher(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; adher(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adhering

The same punishment is handed out for lateness, with Martin and his senior staff also adhering to it to set the standards.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

But it can insist on transparency where legally possible, investigate the history of the allegations and examine whether officials are adhering to the standards that protect prosecutorial independence.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

The couple takes the Mills Act obligations, such as maintaining their home’s historic character and adhering to design guidelines, seriously.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

U.S. stocks stumbled on Wednesday, adhering to a long tradition of weak performance in the aftermath of a new Federal Reserve chair’s first meeting at the helm of the central bank.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026

Havermeyer had tiny bits of peanut brittle adhering to his lips, chin and cheeks.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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