1
a
: any of various strong adhesive substances
especially
: a hard protein chiefly gelatinous substance that absorbs water to form a viscous solution with strong adhesive properties and that is obtained by cooking down collagenous materials (such as hides or bones)
b
: a solution of glue used for sticking things together
2
: something that binds together
… enough social glue … to satisfy the human desire for community.—
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.
glued; gluing also glueing
1
: to cause to stick tightly with or as if with glue
gluing the parts together
used that war to glue together a frail story—Gloria Emerson
Gloria Emerson2
: to cause to remain continuously or to be fixed steadily
—usually used with to
The spectators were glued to their seats.
all eyes glued to the TV screen
Examples of glue in a Sentence
Noun
The hardware store offers several different glues.
used glue to stick the photo in the album
Verb
I glued the pieces of the cup back together.
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
These ragtag misfits, who are all incredibly talented and who are in desperate need of each other, and the glue that binds them together is the music and the city.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
The golden orb is what happens when an anemone glues itself into place.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glue
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.
Noun
As New Atlas has previously explored, applying the principles of origami and the related art of kirigami (in which the folding material can be cut and reattached with glue or fasteners) has a long history in the industrial design of Japan and other countries.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
These ragtag misfits, who are all incredibly talented and who are in desperate need of each other, and the glue that binds them together is the music and the city.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
On another possession, McDaniels navigated an initial screen from Jokic successfully to stay glued to Murray.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
The golden orb is what happens when an anemone glues itself into place.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glue
Cite this Entry
“Glue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glue. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
