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
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026
Many more will have their own World Cup travel memories this summer, the kind of glue that holds this event together in between the matches.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
Oordt, who was born in the Netherlands, recalls the moment when, as a 5-year-old, he was glued to the TV beside his mother and grandmother watching the Dutch team go down in defeat to Italy in a contentious European Championship semi-final game.
—Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for glue
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Clippings Clump Together Water acts as a glue to adhere wet grass clippings together.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026
Many more will have their own World Cup travel memories this summer, the kind of glue that holds this event together in between the matches.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
Verb
During the months of filming, Shaikh was between jobs so instead earned money by doing tailoring - gluing tiny round mirrors to a dazzling yellow, silver and white colored sharara set of wide-legged pants, a tunic and stole.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
Oordt, who was born in the Netherlands, recalls the moment when, as a 5-year-old, he was glued to the TV beside his mother and grandmother watching the Dutch team go down in defeat to Italy in a contentious European Championship semi-final game.
—Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 12 June 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 16 Jun. 2026.
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