clung
ˈkləŋ 
; clinging
; clinging
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.
plural clings
2
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 HordosSynonyms
Examples of cling in a Sentence
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
Bailey Richards, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
But blues artist Samantha Fish was clinging to her Midwestern modesty Thursday afternoon on Frenchmen Street, the three-block heart of New Orleans’ live music scene.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025
Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
And how do the weeds of America’s past cling to its present and future?
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cling 
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Verb
In the clip, Stormi hugs Jenner tightly, clinging to her as Aire goes rogue and sticks his eye right in the camera.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
But blues artist Samantha Fish was clinging to her Midwestern modesty Thursday afternoon on Frenchmen Street, the three-block heart of New Orleans’ live music scene.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
Beneath the ocean’s surface, abalone cling to the seabed with a strong, foot-like appendage and dwell in radiant shells to stay safe from predators.
—Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
And how do the weeds of America’s past cling to its present and future?
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cling
Dictionary Entries Near cling
Cite this Entry
“Cling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cling. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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