Search

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

make like the legendary kitty carlisle hart, who adhered to a daily ritual.
advice from the oldest americans casey schwartz october 28, 2011

he added that last year, crunch year, had not adhered to this pattern.
live from art basel anthony haden-guest june 16, 2010

i wondered if they had known about the worshipful att-tude that once adhered to men like themselves, and mourned its absence.
stalking the literary lion liesl schillinger march 19, 2011

that’s precisely the unwritten policy every gay player has adhered to in the history of the nfl.
michael sam is not a ‘distraction’ dave cullen february 11, 2014

in addition to its racial politics, the south also adhered to a very old-fashioned system of gender roles.
how the gop loses women linda hirshman october 31, 2009

historical examples

this took place generally when some canonical form had not been adhered to, as on this matter the law was rightly most strict.
english monastic life abbot gasquet

in our textbook we have adhered to the same plan of division.
introductory american history henry eldridge bourne

he stamped on the porch and flapped his arms to remove the generous covering of snow that had adhered to him.
the day of the beast zane grey

in short, she adhered as resolutely to her determination as ever.
graham’s magazine vol xxxii. no. 5. may 1848 various

munroe adhered to the coalition, but his adhesion was kept a profound secret till the time came for action.
monk julian corbett

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.