cling

verb

/klɪŋ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they cling	/klɪŋ/ /klɪŋ/
he / she / it clings	/klɪŋz/ /klɪŋz/
past simple clung	/klʌŋ/ /klʌŋ/
past participle clung	/klʌŋ/ /klʌŋ/
-ing form clinging	/ˈklɪŋɪŋ/ /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive] to hold on tightly to somebody/something
- cling to somebody/something survivors clinging to a raft
- Leaves still clung to the branches.
- cling on to somebody/something She clung on to her baby.
- cling on Cling on tight!
- cling together They clung together, shivering with cold.
Synonyms hold
hold
- hold on
- cling
- clutch
- grip
- grasp
- clasp
- hang on
These words all mean to have somebody/something in your hands or arms.
- hold to have somebody/something in your hand or arms:
  She was holding a large box.
  I held the baby gently in my arms.
- hold on (to somebody/something) to continue to hold somebody/something; to put your hand on somebody/something and not take your hand away:
  Hold on and don’t let go until I say so.
- cling to hold on to somebody/something tightly, especially with your whole body:
  Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
- clutch to hold somebody/something tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of something suddenly:
  She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand.
  He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.
- grip to hold on to something very tightly with your hand:
  Grip the rope as tightly as you can.
- grasp to take a strong hold of somebody/something:
  He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
  The object of grasp is often somebody’s hand or wrist.
- clasp (formal) to hold somebody/something tightly in your hand or in your arms:
  They clasped hands (= held each other’s hands).
  She clasped the children in her arms.
  The object of clasp is often your hands, somebody else’s hand or another person.
- hang on (to something) to hold on to something very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling:
  Hang on tight. We’re off!
Patterns
- to hold/clutch/grip/clasp something in your hand/hands
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something in your arms
- to hold/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to something
- to hold/cling/hang on
- to hold/clutch/clasp somebody/something to you
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tightly
- to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp somebody/something firmly
- to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to somebody/something tight
Extra Examples
- I clung closely to my mother's arm.
- She clung fiercely to him.
- She clung onto my arm.
- The children clung together in fear.
- houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs
- She clung tightly to her baby.
- Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
- The ground mist clung closely to the bushes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- closely
- firmly
- tightly
- …
preposition
- onto
- to
See full entry
[intransitive] to stick to something
- a dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body)
- cling to something The wet shirt clung to his chest.
- The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes.
- Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.
[intransitive] cling (to somebody) (usually disapproving) to stay close to somebody, especially because you need them emotionally
- After her mother's death, Sara clung to her aunt more than ever.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- close
- closely
preposition
- to
See full entry

Word OriginOld English clingan ‘stick together’, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch klingen ‘adhere’, Middle High German klingen ‘climb’, also to clench.