Word
adhere
Phoneticsad·here, stress on the second syllable
US/ədˈhɪɹ/
UK/ɐdhˈiə/
Definitions
01to stick to a surface
C1 · Advanced Formal · Technical
v. to stick firmly to something.
v. to stick fast to a surface or substance through physical attraction, suction, or glue. Intransitive; almost always used with the preposition 'to'.
日本語:付着する※
“The bandage will not adhere to your skin if it is wet.”
“The specialized industrial coating is designed to adhere to metallic surfaces even under extreme thermal stress.”
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'to'.
02to follow rules or beliefs
C1 · Advanced Formal · Academic
v. to continue to obey a rule or maintain a belief.
v. to behave according to a particular rule, belief, or agreement. Intransitive; requires 'to' before the object.
日本語:順守する※
“All staff members must adhere to the company's safety policy.”
“The research team failed to strictly adhere to the established ethical guidelines, leading to the eventual dismissal of their findings.”
Usage
Always used with the preposition 'to' followed by a noun phrase.
Teaching tip
This is a high-frequency word in academic and legal contexts; students should use it instead of 'follow' to sound more professional.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adhere” in context.
Verb
01. adhere to
“The glue is designed to adhere to a variety of surfaces, including plastic and metal.”
verb + prep
Adverb
02. strictly adhere
“All staff members must strictly adhere to the safety protocols established by the laboratory.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).” Etymology
From Middle English *adheren (suggested by Middle English adherande (“adhering, adherent”, present participle)), from Latin adhaerēre, adhaesum: ad (“to”) + haerēre (“to stick”). Compare French adhérer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/adhere
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0