adhering

EN
verb

🇺🇸

/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/

🇺🇸

/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/

🇬🇧

/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/

🇬🇧

/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/

Word Forms

Past Tense

adhered

Past Participle

adhered

Gerund

adhering

3rd Person

adheres

Description

Adhering means sticking to something — whether it's a surface (like glue), a rule (like a law), or a belief (like a value). It’s about staying loyal, consistent, or physically attached — think of tape holding paper down, or a doctor insisting you adhere to your medication plan.

Examples

All team members must adhere to the company's code of conduct.

The bandage is designed to adhere firmly even when wet.

She has always adhered to her ethical principles, no matter the pressure.

To recover fully, patients must adhere to the prescribed rehabilitation program.

The paint failed to adhere properly to the damp wall.

Root

her

Comes from the Latin verb 'haerēre', meaning 'to stick, cling, or adhere'. It conveys the core idea of physical or figurative attachment, persistence, or loyalty. Examples include adhere, adherent, coherent, incoherent, adhere, adhesive, inherent.

ad

Comes from the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to' or 'toward'. It indicates direction, addition, or proximity. Examples include adhere, adopt, adapt, attract, address, advance.