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to stay attached; stick fast; cleave; cling (usually followed by to):
the mud adhered to his shoes.
physics. (of two or more dissimilar substances) to be united by a molecular force acting in the area of contact.
to be devoted in support or allegiance; be attached as a follower or upholder (usually followed by to):
to adhere to a party.
to hold closely or firmly (usually followed by to):
to adhere to a plan.
obsolete. to be consistent.
to cause to adhere; make stick:
glue will adhere the tiles to the wallboard.
contemporary examples

looking back on it, she was horrified at the way everyone was forced to adhere to the same beliefs.
mich-lle pfeiffer and more stars who escaped from ‘cults’ alec kubas-meyer november 6, 2013

and so a writer of books in 2012 faces an agonizing choice: join the pioneers — or adhere to the tried and true?
why my next e-book will be about iraq david frum may 18, 2012

when talking to the media, we need to adhere to strict standards of transparency about clients.
facebook smear blame game dan lyons may 12, 2011

that doesn’t mean the palestinian people will adhere to any agreement mahmoud abbas, whose mandate is up, signs in their name.
palestinian prisoners: p-wns of the peace process maysoon zayid july 31, 2013

any distiller who cannot adhere to them may not label its whiskey as such.
hillbilly heaven: the history of small-batch bourbon dane huckelbridge march 28, 2014

historical examples

now regulate the time of feeding to suit the age of the child and adhere to strict regularity.
the eugenic marriage, vol 2 (of 4) w. grant hague

after much exercitation the germans determined to adhere to the offensive.
camps, quarters and casual places archibald forbes

maria antoinette’s education and natural disposition led her to adhere to the customs of the court of her ancestors.
maria antoinette john s. c. (john stevens cabot) abbott

put the saucepan in a bain-marie, and stir so that the eggs may not adhere.
the cook’s decameron: a study in taste: mrs. w. g. waters

mdango was informed that we should adhere to our original purpose.
freeland theodor hertzka

verb (intransitive)
(usually foll by to) to stick or hold fast
(foll by to) to be devoted (to a political party, cause, religion, etc); be a follower (of)
(foll by to) to follow closely or exactly: adhere to the rules
v.

1590s, from middle french adhérer (15c.) or directly from latin adhaerare “to stick to” (see adherent). originally often of persons, “to cleave to a leader, cause, party, etc.” (cf. adherent, still often used in this sense). related: adhered; adhering.