What does adhere mean?
To adhere is to stick firmly, whether literally or figuratively. In its physical sense, it describes one substance remaining attached to another: paint adheres to a wall, a stamp adheres to an envelope. In its more common figurative sense, it means to act in faithful accordance with a rule, principle, agreement, or plan — as when citizens adhere to the law or patients adhere to a prescribed treatment. The word always implies firmness and persistence; someone who adheres to something does not merely accept it but holds to it steadily over time. Derived from the Latin adhaerere, meaning 'to stick to', it entered English in the sixteenth century and has since given rise to a family of related terms including adherence, adhesive, and adhesion. Because of its formal tone, adhere appears frequently in legal, medical, scientific, and professional writing, where precision about compliance or attachment matters.
To stick firmly to a surface; to remain attached.
"The decal adheres smoothly to glass without bubbles."
Usually used intransitively in this sense.
To act in accordance with, or show steady commitment to, a rule, belief, or plan.
"The committee must adhere to the deadlines set out in the charter."
Always followed by 'to' in this figurative sense.
The same Latin root that gives us 'adhere' also gives us 'adhesive tape' — and 'inherent', because what is inherent is literally 'stuck in'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adhere
Adhere comes from the Latin verb adhaerere, formed from ad- ('to, toward') plus haerere ('to stick'), so it literally means 'to stick to'. It was borrowed into English in the sixteenth century, initially in its literal sense of physical attachment before extending to figurative adherence to beliefs and rules. It shares this root with adhesion, adhesive, and adherence, and is related to cohere and inherent, which derive from the same Latin verb haerere with different prefixes.
Related word forms
How adhere is actually used
In its figurative sense, 'adhere' almost always takes the preposition 'to' — 'adhere to the rules' rather than 'adhere the rules'. It carries a formal register, so 'follow' or 'stick to' often replaces it in casual speech.
Easily confused with adhere
Cohere means to hold together as a unified whole or be logically consistent, while adhere means to stick to something else or follow rules.
Coincide means to occur at the same time or place, whereas adhere means to stick physically or comply with rules.