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
Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
When the kitten, later named Elmer, arrived, he was covered in the thick, gloopy glue from ear to tail, leaving him unable to eat, drink, or groom himself.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Reporters up and down the rows of chairs in front of the podium were glued to their phones and computers, keeping an eye on Augusta National Golf Club and the final moments of the Masters tournament.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glue
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Noun
The humane society and foster team will continue to care for Elmer, including giving him regular oil baths to help remove some of the remaining glue.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
When the kitten, later named Elmer, arrived, he was covered in the thick, gloopy glue from ear to tail, leaving him unable to eat, drink, or groom himself.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
On Tuesday afternoon, police were called when an activist super-glued herself to a display cabinet at the Bode Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Reporters up and down the rows of chairs in front of the podium were glued to their phones and computers, keeping an eye on Augusta National Golf Club and the final moments of the Masters tournament.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 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 21 Apr. 2026.
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