adhere

[ ad-heer ]

verb (used without object)

, ad·hered, ad·her·ing.

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

   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 by to ):

   to adhere to a party.

4. to hold closely or firmly (usually followed by to ):

   to adhere to a plan.

5. Obsolete. to be consistent.

verb (used with object)

, ad·hered, ad·her·ing.

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

Usage

See adhesion

Derived Forms

• adˈherence, noun

Other Words From

• ad·her·a·ble adjective
• ad·her·er noun
• pre·ad·here verb (used without object) preadhered preadhering

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 conventional wisdom has it that, thanks to production delays caused by the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, the pickings are slim this year, which is true provided you adhere to a narrow parameter of what defines a movie or performance being “Oscar-worthy.”

From Los Angeles Times

But for a ballot to count, it must adhere to several rules, and ballots can be challenged for a variety of reasons.

From Los Angeles Times

But according to Carolyn Mair, a behavioral psychologist who created the University of Arts London’s Psychology of Fashion department, the tech billionaires are “choosing not to adhere to the sartorial codes of old-money elites, who tend to favor refined, understated luxury.”

From Salon

Salafists are fundamentalists who seek to adhere the example of the Prophet Muhammad and the first generations who followed him.

From BBC

The choice to defer action on these rules has not only delayed the implementation in California, but in other states that have chosen to adhere to California’s more stringent climate rules instead of the federal government’s.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comply
• heed
• obey
• observe
• stand by