cling

verb

ˈkliŋ 

clung ˈkləŋ  ; clinging

intransitive verb

1

a

: to hold together

b

: to adhere as if glued firmly

The shirt clung to his wet shoulders.

c

: to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously

The kitten clung to the narrow branch.

2

a

: to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence

he clung to his friends for support

b

: to remain or linger as if resisting complete spreading or scattering

The odor clung to the room for hours.

clinger

ˈkliŋ-ər 

noun

Synonyms of cling

• adhere
• stick

Choose the Right Synonym for cling

stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached.

stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Examples of cling in a Sentence

The children clung together under the little umbrella waiting for the storm to pass.

a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Recent Examples on the Web

This mini dress is made from lightweight fabric that feels soft against the skin and has a breezy silhouette that keeps it from clinging. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026

They were stunned to discover thriving ecosystems made up of millimeter-sized organisms clinging to exposed rock surfaces in near-freezing darkness. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

The property’s laundry room has an ample supply of detergent pods for multiple loads if the dusty sandlands start noticeably clinging to your clothes. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026

The Avs remained defiant in defeat, sounding a little too much like Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, clinging to flattering analytics during his team’s own conference-final sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English clingan; akin to Old High German klunga tangled ball of thread

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cling

• cling film
• static cling

Rhymes for cling

• bing
• bring
• ching
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming
• qing

Kids Definition

cling

verb

ˈkliŋ

clung

ˈkləŋ

; clinging

ˈkliŋ-iŋ

1

: to stick to as if glued

2

: to hold or hold on tightly

clung desperately to the ladder

3

: to remain close : be dependent

clings to the family