cling

1 of 2

verb

clung ˈkləŋ How to pronounce cling (audio) ; clinging

intransitive verb

1
a
: to hold together
b
: to adhere as if glued firmly
The shirt clung to his wet shoulders.
c
: to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously
The kitten clung to the narrow branch.
2
a
: to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence
he clung to his friends for support
b
: to remain or linger as if resisting complete spreading or scattering
The odor clung to the room for hours.
clinger noun

cling

2 of 2

noun

plural clings
1
: an act or instance of clinging : adherence
2
3
: a sheet of material (such as plastic or vinyl) designed to adhere to a flat surface by static electricity and often printed with an image or message
When it's time for a new look, simply peel off the clings and store them away for another day.Lorna Hordos
Choose the Right Synonym for cling

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 cling in a Sentence

Verb The children clung together under the little umbrella waiting for the storm to pass. a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator Noun for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Fence bears out With snow still clinging to mountainsides and bears still asleep, some 30 people have shown up in a converted Fernie railway station to discuss grizzly bear coexistence. Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025 Listen to this article The Queens single mom clinging to life after being savagely beaten and robbed of her e-bike on Randalls Island was left unconscious on the ground for nearly six hours before she was discovered by a passerby the next morning, the Daily News has learned. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Noun
Based on the novel by Peter Heller, The Dog Stars is set nine years after a flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity, watching as a grieving pilot and his loyal dog cling to survival in a remote Colorado airfield. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 May 2025 Those attending the April 25 event can pick up yard signs, window clings and bumper stickers with the 988 number, according to the press release. Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cling

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English clingan; akin to Old High German klunga tangled ball of thread

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cling was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cling. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

cling

verb
ˈkliŋ
clung
ˈkləŋ
; clinging
ˈkliŋ-iŋ
1
: to stick to as if glued
2
: to hold or hold on tightly
clung desperately to the ladder
3
: to remain close : be dependent
clings to the family

More from Merriam-Webster on cling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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