cling
B1Neutral. Used in both informal and formal contexts, though the physical sense is more common in everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
To hold tightly or adhere closely, especially with the arms or tendrils, often for support, comfort, or survival.
To remain persistently attached to an idea, hope, memory, or habit; to refuse to let go of something abstract.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a tenacious, often desperate or persistent, attachment. Can connote dependency (cling to someone) or stubbornness (cling to an idea). The past tense and past participle are both 'clung'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The noun 'cling film' is common in UK English; US English uses 'plastic wrap' or 'Saran wrap' (brand name).
Connotations
Equally neutral/connotative in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cling to + noun/pronoun (She clung to the railing.)cling on + adverb/preposition (The child clung on tightly.)cling together (The refugees clung together for warmth.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cling film (UK)”
- “Cling like a limpet”
- “Cling to hope”
- “Cling to the past”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possible in metaphors: 'The company clings to outdated business models.'
Academic
Used in psychological/sociological contexts: 'Infants cling to their primary caregivers.'
Everyday
Very common for physical and emotional attachment: 'The wet shirt clung to his skin.' 'He still clings to his childhood dreams.'
Technical
In botany: 'The vine clings to the wall with tendrils.' In materials science: 'The polymer clings to surfaces.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The kitten will cling to your jumper if it's scared.
- She clung to the hope that he would return.
- This new cling film is much stronger.
- The politician is accused of clinging to power.
American English
- The child clung to his mother's leg at the playground.
- They cling to their traditions despite modern pressures.
- Pass the plastic wrap, please; this bowl needs covering.
- The fog clung to the valley all morning.
adverb
British English
- Not a standard adverbial form. Use 'closely', 'tightly'.
American English
- Not a standard adverbial form. Use 'closely', 'tightly'.
adjective
British English
- She wore a clingy satin dress to the party.
- He finds her overly clingy and dependent.
American English
- The fabric is too clingy for my liking.
- Avoid clingy relationships in your first year of college.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby monkey clings to its mother.
- My wet clothes cling to me.
- He clung to the rope to avoid falling.
- She still clings to her old teddy bear.
- Survivors clung to the wreckage until help arrived.
- The party is clinging to a narrow lead in the polls.
- The ideology clings to a romanticised version of the past.
- A faint smell of smoke clung to his clothes for days.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLINGing monkey with long arms – it CLINGS to the branch. 'CLING' sounds like 'CLING!', the sound of something gripping tightly.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFECTION/ATTACHMENT IS PHYSICAL ADHESION (e.g., 'cling to a belief', 'clingy relationship').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'обнимать' (to hug). 'Cling' is more specific and desperate. Use 'цепляться', 'прилипать', or 'прижиматься' depending on context.
- Avoid using 'cling' for momentary holding; it implies duration.
- The adjective 'clingy' (требующий постоянного внимания, 'липкий') is a common derivative with negative connotations.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past form: 'clinged' (correct: 'clung').
- Using 'cling' without 'to' for abstract objects: 'She clings her ideas.' (correct: 'She clings TO her ideas.')
- Overusing for simple 'hold'. 'Cling' implies effort or need.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'cling' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it often has connotations of neediness, desperation, or stubbornness. In neutral physical contexts ('the dress clings to her figure'), it is descriptive.
'Cling' often involves an active holding on (by a person/animal) or a close fit (clothing). 'Stick' is more general for two surfaces attached (glue, tape). 'Adhere' is more formal/scientific and implies a bond.
Rarely. It is almost always an intransitive verb requiring a prepositional phrase (cling to/on) or an adverb (cling together).
There is no common, independent noun form. 'Cling' as a noun is almost exclusively part of the compound 'cling film' (UK). The concept is expressed with 'clinging' (gerund).