cling
1 of 2verb
ˈkliŋ 
clung ˈkləŋ ; clinging
; 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 cling
2 of 2noun
plural clings
1
: an act or instance of clinging : adherence
2
: clingstone
3
: a sheet of material (such as plastic or vinyl) designed to adhere to a flat surface by static electricity and often printed with an image or message
When it's time for a new look, simply peel off the clings and store them away for another day.
Lorna Hordos
Lorna Hordos
Synonyms
Verb
- adhere
- cleave
- hew
- stick
Noun
- adherence
- adhesion
- bonding
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The children clung together under the little umbrella waiting for the storm to pass. a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator Noun for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling
Recent Examples on the Web Allure Editors, Allure, 13 Sep. 2022 Not only does this help establish a good oral hygiene routine and get your baby used to the habit and feeling of brushing, but the bristles will remove sugars from their milk, formula or baby food that would otherwise cling to their gums. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022 Grown on estates known as quantas that cling to the steep hillsides along the river, port is typically processed in farmhouses and wineries on site before transport down river to Porto. Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 Doing so will, in most cases, lead to conservative outcomes that cling to traditions and inhibit the nation’s legal system from adapting to society’s ever-changing outlook. Michael Bobelian, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Instead, the rodents brush against the scores of scarlet stamens, which carry the pollen that could then cling to their fur coats until being transferred to another feijoa tree. New York Times, 22 June 2022 Relaxed dresses are perfect for sweat-inducing temperatures since they're usually made with lightweight materials that won't cling to your skin, allowing air to filter through. Sanah Faroke, PEOPLE.com, 18 June 2022 But others are less sure of that evolutionary logic, especially because some deer species cling to their antlers ’til spring. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2022 Friendships are often forged during college years, when people first leave home and cling to new relationships. Clare Ansberry, WSJ, 31 July 2022 Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 6 Sep. 2022 Timing, too, can help a vaccine’s protection cling. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021 Most recently, a startup called Polymateria created a plastic cling film, intended for uses like packaging, that can break down within a year and also be recycled. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 8 June 2021 Chartrand points to the Y2K revival, an aesthetic movement popular on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter among Gen Z-ers too young to have experience MTV TRL the first time around, as one reason for the return of cling. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 27 May 2021 That’s where the vast majority of the people suffer and the few cling to power and thrive by exploiting others. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 Install new windows with a low-E coating, or line old windowpanes with an adhesive or static-cling film. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2021 Too much sunlight makes daytime naps or early bedtimes seemingly impossible, but this handy window cling is the perfect solution for total darkness any time of day. Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 24 Sep. 2020 Rocket Man put together a proposal of health guidelines for its employees to use, including wearing both face shields and masks, using hand sanitizer between each transaction and covering cocktail glasses with a perforated cling film. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2020 See More
Verb
The formula is infused with fibers that cling to existing brow hairs, resulting in a fuller, fluffier look. Allure Editors, Allure, 13 Sep. 2022 Not only does this help establish a good oral hygiene routine and get your baby used to the habit and feeling of brushing, but the bristles will remove sugars from their milk, formula or baby food that would otherwise cling to their gums. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022 Grown on estates known as quantas that cling to the steep hillsides along the river, port is typically processed in farmhouses and wineries on site before transport down river to Porto. Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 Doing so will, in most cases, lead to conservative outcomes that cling to traditions and inhibit the nation’s legal system from adapting to society’s ever-changing outlook. Michael Bobelian, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Instead, the rodents brush against the scores of scarlet stamens, which carry the pollen that could then cling to their fur coats until being transferred to another feijoa tree. New York Times, 22 June 2022 Relaxed dresses are perfect for sweat-inducing temperatures since they're usually made with lightweight materials that won't cling to your skin, allowing air to filter through. Sanah Faroke, PEOPLE.com, 18 June 2022 But others are less sure of that evolutionary logic, especially because some deer species cling to their antlers ’til spring. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2022 Friendships are often forged during college years, when people first leave home and cling to new relationships. Clare Ansberry, WSJ, 31 July 2022 Noun
This spooky window cling features a light-up, 3D moon. Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 6 Sep. 2022 Timing, too, can help a vaccine’s protection cling. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021 Most recently, a startup called Polymateria created a plastic cling film, intended for uses like packaging, that can break down within a year and also be recycled. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 8 June 2021 Chartrand points to the Y2K revival, an aesthetic movement popular on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter among Gen Z-ers too young to have experience MTV TRL the first time around, as one reason for the return of cling. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 27 May 2021 That’s where the vast majority of the people suffer and the few cling to power and thrive by exploiting others. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 Install new windows with a low-E coating, or line old windowpanes with an adhesive or static-cling film. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2021 Too much sunlight makes daytime naps or early bedtimes seemingly impossible, but this handy window cling is the perfect solution for total darkness any time of day. Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 24 Sep. 2020 Rocket Man put together a proposal of health guidelines for its employees to use, including wearing both face shields and masks, using hand sanitizer between each transaction and covering cocktail glasses with a perforated cling film. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Old English clingan; akin to Old High German klunga tangled ball of thread
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing cling
Kids Definition
cling
verb
ˈkliŋ
clung
ˈkləŋ
; clinging 1
: to hold fast by grasping or winding around
To avoid falling, cling to the railing.
2
: to remain close
He clings to the family.
3
: to hold fast or stick closely to a surface
These wet socks are clinging to my feet.
4
: to continue to believe in
We clung to the hope that we'd be rescued.
clings
verb
as in adheres
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- adheres
- sticks
- cleaves
- glues
- hews
- binds
- unites
- fastens
- coheres
- fuses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loosens
- falls
- drops