adhere

verb

ad·here | \ ad-ˈhir

, əd-\

adhered; adhering

Definition of adhere

1 : to hold fast or stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or fusing The stamp failed to adhere to the envelope.

2 : to give support or maintain loyalty adhere to traditional values

3 : to bind oneself to observance adhere to the rules

4 obsolete : accord sense intransitive 1

transitive verb

: to cause to stick fast The paper had been adhered to the wall.

Other Words from adhere Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about adhere

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Choose the Right Synonym for adhere

stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. couldn't get the label to stick adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. antibodies adhering to a virus cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. eggs will make the mixture cohere cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. clinging to a capsized boat cleave stresses strength of attachment. the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Examples of adhere in a Sentence

The stamp failed to adhere. everyone started calling her “Cookie” when she was little and the name adhered

Recent Examples on the Web

Your body springs into action, combining enough platelets (blood cells that adhere to each other) and proteins from plasma (the liquid part of your blood) to plug the injured blood vessel, the Mayo Clinic says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Here’s When to See a Doctor About Period Clots," 1 Mar. 2019 While some say the prospects for progress are better than at any point in years, in part because the Taliban has adhered to short-term ceasefires. — Alex Ward, Vox, "After 17 years of war, Afghan government and Taliban may meet for peace talks," 18 Dec. 2018 Until recently, presidents of both parties and their advisers have adhered to a policy of staying mum on interest-rate decisions to avoid any real or perceived political pressure on the Fed. — Kate Davidson, WSJ, "Larry Kudlow Predicts Fed Could Rethink Rate Increases," 7 Dec. 2018 In general, look for caulks made with mold-free technology that adhere to common surfaces. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "How to Draft-Proof Your Home for a Lower Heating Bill," 20 Nov. 2018 Research the operators of whale shark tours before booking to ensure your experience is with one that adheres to safety and sustainability standards. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Islands in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 2018 Looking over 4 and a half miles (7,500 meters) below the surface, the scientists found fish that do not adhere to any preconceived notions of what deep sea fish should look like. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Discover Trippy New Translucent Fish at the Bottom of the Ocean," 10 Sep. 2018 Its opinion differed with Pueschel's findings, saying that the officers had adhered to department policies. — Charles Rabin, miamiherald, "Miami man sues after wild tussle with cops. Much of it was caught on body cam video.," 27 June 2018 With its five different overall health reports that adhere to FDA regulations, the test can map out how your genetics may influence risks for certain diseases, such as Parkinson's or Celiac. — Banu Ibrahim, CNN Underscored, "Sale alert! 23andMe's comprehensive DNA kit is now 30% off," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adhere.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.