clingverb
uk/klɪŋ/us/klɪŋ/clung, clungcling verb (HOLD)
C2 [ I + adv/prep ] to stick onto or hold something or someone tightly, or to refuse to stop holding it, him, or her:
We got so wet that our clothes clung to us.
They clung together in terror as the screams grew louder.
One little girl was clinging onto a cuddly toy.
She clung to the handrail as she walked down the slippery steps.
More examples
- A few wisps of hay still clung to her skirt.
- Kate was still clinging to the wreckage of her failed marriage.
- She clung to my hand as we entered the doctor's surgery.
- They discovered four men clinging to a piece of wood in the choppy seas.
- Her wet hair clung to her face.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Having in your hands
- ahold
- arm
- clasp
- clench
- cradle
- cup
- dandle
- enfold
- glove
- grab
- grasp
- hand
- handle
- hang
- hang on
- hang/hold on like grim death idiom
- hold
- hold on
- hold onto sb/sth
- pinion
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cling verb (STAY CLOSE)
[ I usually + adv/prep ] to stay close or near:
The road clings to (= closely follows) the coastline for several miles, then it turns inland.
[ I ] disapproving to stay close to someone who is taking care of you, because you need their support:
Jenny is the kind of child who always clings whenever she's taken to a new place.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Closeness in distance and time
- a few/couple of steps idiom
- a hair's breadth idiom
- a stone's throw idiom
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere near idiom
- face-to-face
- float around
- hand to hand idiom
- hard by
- here
- proximity
- roof
- round the corner idiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- stick together
- towards
- under the same roof idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Creating alliances
clinging
adjective uk/ˈklɪŋ.ɪŋ/us/ˈklɪŋ.ɪŋ/also clingy
Phrasal verb(s)
cling (on) to sth
cling to sth