cling

¹

[kling]

verb (used without object)

clung, clinging 

1. to adhere closely; stick to.

   The wet paper clings to the glass.

2. to hold tight, as by grasping or embracing; cleave.

   The children clung to each other in the dark.

   Synonyms: hug, grab, clutch

3. to be or remain close.

   The child clung to her mother's side.

4. to remain attached, as to an idea, hope, memory, etc..

   Despite the predictions, the candidate clung to the belief that he would be elected.

5. to cohere.

noun

1. the act of clinging; adherence; attachment.

cling

²

[kling]

noun

1. a clingstone.

cling

/ klɪŋ /

verb

1. (often foll by to) to hold fast or adhere closely (to something), as by gripping or sticking

2. (foll by together) to remain in contact (with each other)

3. to be or remain physically or emotionally close

   to cling to outmoded beliefs

noun

1. agriculture the tendency of cotton fibres in a sample to stick to each other

2. obsolete,  agriculture diarrhoea or scouring in animals

3. short for clingstone

Other Word Forms

• clingingly adverb
• clingy adjective
• clinginess noun
• clinging adjective
• clinger noun
• clingingness noun
• unclinging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cling¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English clingen, Old English clingan “to stick together, shrink, wither”; akin to clench

Origin of cling²

1835–45; by shortening from clingstone, or special use of cling ¹ (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cling¹

Old English clingan; related to _clench

Example Sentences

The incident happened after federal agents tried taking the woman's husband into custody as she and her daughter clung on to him, CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reported.

From BBC

It may turn out to be a slight overreach, given the existence of weirdo Republicans like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul who cling to the last tattered remnants of libertarian ideals.

From Salon

But in a swirl of penalties and poor discipline from its defense, USC inexplicably found itself clinging to a one-score lead in the fourth quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

The UK and France have clung to the idea that two separate states – Israeli and Palestinian – are the solution to the conflict here, even as Palestinian territory was taken, and Palestinian institutions undermined.

From BBC

“This town has been very good to me for many, many years, so I have an inclination not to abandon it, to cling to the community that has been so rewarding for me.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adhere 
• clasp 
• fasten