Definition of cling - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
adhesionadhere or stick firmly to a surface or substance
- The wet shirt clung to his back..
2.
safetyhold tightly to avoid falling
- She clings to the railing during the storm.
3.
beliefpersist in believing in something
- She clings to her old traditions.
4.
possessiontry hard to keep a position or possession
- He clings to his job despite the challenges.
5.
relationshipremain emotionally attached to someone
- He clings to his childhood memories.
Noun
1.
emotionstrong attachment or devotion
- His cling to old traditions was evident.
2.
foodRare US fruit with flesh sticking to the pitRare US
- The cling was difficult to slice.
Images of cling
fruit with flesh sticking to the pit
Expressions with cling
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
hold tightly to something to avoid falling
She clings on to the railing during the storm.
hold tightly with one's hands
She clings to the rope during the climb.
struggle to stay alive despite difficulties
The injured animal clung to life despite its severe wounds.
to resist change and hold on to old ways
She tends to cling to the past, avoiding new technologies.
stay very close to someone
She clings like a leech to her best friend at parties.
stay very close to someone for comfort or safety
The child would always cling to her mother's skirts in crowds.
hold on to something very fragile
In the storm, the bird clung to a thread of the nest.
thin plastic film for sealing food containers
Cover the leftovers with cling wrap to keep them fresh.
keep a strong hold on something or an idea
She will cling on to her dreams no matter what.
hold on to a belief strongly
She clings to a belief in justice despite the corruption around her.
continue to believe in a positive outcome
Despite the challenges, they cling to hope for a better future.
maintain control or authority despite challenges
The dictator will do anything to cling to power.
the sticking together of clothes due to static electricity
The dryer sheets help reduce static cling in the laundry.
depend on someone or something and be unwilling to let go
She tends to cling to the skirts of her older sister.
stay very close to someone for comfort or protection
The child would cling to the skirt of his mother in crowds.
Origin of cling
Old English, clingan (to adhere)
Terms with cling included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
expectations
to cling to unrealistic expectations
loyalty
adhere or cling firmly to something
weed species
plants with sticky seeds that cling to surfaces
plant
flowering herbs with yellow blooms and hooked seeds that cling to animals
clingy
having a tendency to cling like a burr
cleavers
plant with hooked bristles that cling
cling parasitically
attach oneself to someone or something in a parasitic manner
insect
small pests that cling to animals and humans
botany
plant with sticky burrs that cling to fur
Examples of cling in a sentence
Mud clung to his boots. He clings to the rope while climbing. The child clings to her mother in the crowd. Despite evidence, he clings to his outdated views. They cling to the belief that honesty is the best policy. She clings to her beliefs despite criticism.
They cling to their traditions in the modern world. She tends to cling to her best friend during parties. Despite the breakup, he clings to the hope of reconciliation. Her cling to the past was unshakeable. The cling he had for his childhood home was touching. The cling made the fruit hard to eat. Removing the cling required a sharp knife.
View all translations of cling
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:coller, adhérence, ...
- German:kleben, Anhänglichkeit, ...
- Italian:attaccarsi, attaccamento, ...
- Spanish:pegarse, apego, ...
- Portuguese:agarrar-se, apego, ...
- Chinese:紧贴, 执着, ...
- Japanese:くっつく, 執着, ...
- Arabic:اِلْتَصَقَ, تَعَلُّق شَدِيد, ...
- Hebrew:לְהִידָּבֵק, הֵיצָמְדוּת, ...
- Russian:цепляться, привязанность, ...
- Ukrainian:чіплятися, прихильність, ...
- Hindi:चिपकना, लगाव, ...
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