adhere

UK: /ədˈhɪə^r/ US: /ædˈhɪr/ ,(ad hēr′)

Inflections of 'adhere' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

adheres

v 3rd person singular

adhering

v pres p

adhered

v past

adhered

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ad•here /ædˈhɪr/   v., -hered, -her•ing. 

1. to stay attached; stick fast;
   cling: [no object]
   The glued areas adhered.
   [~ + to + object]
   Mud adhered to my boots.
2. to stay with;
   be faithful to:
   [~ + to + object] to adhere to a plan.

ad•her•ence /ædˈhɪrəns, -ˈhɛr-/  n. [uncountable] See -here-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ad•here  (ad hēr′), v., -hered, -her•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to stay attached;
   stick fast;
   cleave;
   cling (usually fol. by to):
   The mud adhered to his shoes.
2. Physics (of two or more dissimilar substances) to be united by a molecular force acting in the area of contact.
3. to be devoted in support or allegiance;
   be attached as a follower or upholder (usually fol. by to):
   to adhere to a party.
4. to hold closely or firmly (usually fol. by to):
   to adhere to a plan.
5. [Obs.] to be consistent.

v.t. 

6. to cause to adhere;
   make stick:
   Glue will adhere the tiles to the wallboard.

• Medieval Latin adhērēre for Latin adhaerēre (ad- ad- + haerēre to stick, cling), perh. via Middle French adhérer
• 1590–1600

ad•her′a•ble, adj. 
ad•her′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See stick. 

Antonyms

• 1. part, loosen.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

adhere / ədˈhɪə/ verb (intransitive)

1. (usually followed by to) to stick or hold fast
2. (followed by to) to be devoted (to a political party, cause, religion, etc); be a follower (of)
3. (followed by to) to follow closely or exactly

Etymology: 16th Century: via Medieval Latin adhērēre from Latin adhaerēre to stick to