adhere
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adhere to (something)
1. To stick to something, such as a surface. The masking tape was so old that it would no longer adhere to anything. Move slowly and gently, just in case the bandage has adhered to the wound. Be careful with that super strong glue, it'll make your fingers adhere to each other.
2. To follow a plan, belief system, or course of action. If I don't adhere to a strict routine during the workweek, I usually start feeling stressed. I'm not serving pork at the dinner party because I know Richard adheres to a Kosher diet. My parents adhere to Catholicism, but I don't go to church anymore.
3. To believe in a particular idea or concept. He adheres to the belief that working long hours and staying late at the office is the only way to get promoted. You can't adhere to "work hard, play hard" forever—at some point, you have to grow up and stop partying so much. My grandmother always adhered to the notion that children should be seen and not heard.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
adhere to something
1. Lit. to stick to something. The stamp won't adhere to the envelope.
2. Fig. to follow or "stick to" a particular course of action, plan, or set of beliefs. If you don't adhere to the proper routine, you will confuse the other workers.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
adhere to
v.
1. To stick or cling to the surface of something: After the fire, soot and smoke adhered to the walls.
2. To follow some law, set of beliefs, or course of action: Let's adhere to the plan we already discussed. You need to adhere to our rules very strictly if you want to join our organization.
3. To believe that some idea is true or right: Although some people are skeptical, most people adhere to the notion that our changing climate is a serious problem.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.