adhere

American  

[ad-heer] / ædˈhɪər /

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 British  

/ 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

---

Related Words

See stick ².

Other Word Forms

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

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.

Example Sentences

Airports could terminate contracts with companies that fail to provide good service, and TSA could revoke certification of companies that fail to adhere to federal screening requirements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"At the same time, I ask that you respect the work of the emergency services and adhere to the existing protective measures."

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

His quiet, confident witness since becoming pontiff in May had already reignited a spiritual light in me to adhere closer to the faith I was brought up in.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Stories about recessions frequently adhere to a boom-to-bust narrative arc.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 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

Related Words

• comply
• heed
• obey
• observe
• stand by