Definition

Verb (transitive): To hold onto something or someone very tightly and persistently, often with a strong emotional attachment or a refusal to let go. It implies a firm, often desperate, physical or metaphorical grasp.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of gripping something tightly, either physically or by maintaining a belief, hope, or memory with determination. It often carries a connotation of dependency, reluctance to release, or tenacity.

Examples

• She clung to the railing as she walked down the icy steps.
• The child clung to his mother's leg, afraid of the stranger.
• He still clings to the hope that his missing dog will return home.
• The wet shirt clung to his skin.
• They cling to their traditions despite the changing world.

Advanced Usage

• Cling to the belief/idea/notion that...: To persist in believing something, often despite evidence to the contrary.
  • She clings to the belief that everything will work out in the end.
• Cling to life: To struggle to stay alive, often in a dire situation.
  • The injured hiker clung to life until rescuers arrived.
• Cling to power/office: To try desperately to maintain a position of authority.
  • The dictator clung to power for decades.

Variants and Related Words

• Cling (verb, intransitive): The base form, meaning to adhere or stick closely.
  • The vine clings to the wall.
• Clingy (adjective): Describing a person or thing that clings, often excessively.
  • The fabric is very clingy.
  • He became clingy after the breakup.
• Cling film (noun, British English): A thin plastic wrap that adheres to surfaces; known as "plastic wrap" or "Saran wrap" in American English.

Synonyms

• Clutch: To grasp or hold tightly, often suddenly.
• Clasp: To hold firmly with the hand or arms.
• Grip: To take and keep a firm hold of.
• Hold onto: To keep possession of or maintain a grip on.
• Adhere to: To stick firmly to a surface, substance, or belief (more formal).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cling on: Very similar to "cling to," often emphasizing the effort of holding on.
  • Cling on tight! The ride is about to start.
• Hold on to: A more general synonym for retaining possession or grip, physical or abstract.
  • You should hold on to those old letters.

Related Idioms

• Cling like a limpet: To hold on very obstinately and tenaciously. (A limpet is a shellfish that sticks tightly to rocks.)
  • Once he gets an idea, he clings to it like a limpet.
• Cling to someone's coattails: To try to achieve success by associating with someone who is already successful.
  • He rose in the company by clinging to the CEO's coattails.

Verb

1. hold firmly, usually with one's hands
   • She clutched my arm when she got scared