Adhere is a verb meaning to stick to a surface or to follow closely or loyally to a rule, belief, or plan. It implies steady attachment or faithful observance, often used in contexts like adhesion of materials or adherence to guidelines. The term emphasizes persistence and commitment rather than casual attachment.
"The label will adhere to the package if it’s left to dry overnight."
"She vowed to adhere to the company’s code of conduct."
"Pilots must adhere to the flight plan unless weather conditions change."
"The tape will adhere firmly once it has been pressed for several seconds."
Adhere comes from the Latin adhaerere, composed of ad- meaning 'toward' and haerere meaning 'to stick, cling.' This Latin verb evolved into Old French adérer and later Middle English adhere. The base idea has long connected physical sticking with figurative fidelity—being steadfast or loyal to a principle, plan, or rule. In English, the sense of physically sticking to a surface emerged first in early borrowings due to the tangible action of glue and adhesion. By the 16th and 17th centuries, adherere also carried abstract sense: to adhere to rules, duties, or beliefs, signaling commitment beyond mere physical attachment. The word’s phonology settled into broadly two-part stress patterns in English, with the first syllable often slightly stressed in careful speech, though in rapid speech the vowel of the second syllable may reduce slightly. The noun form adhesion is a related noun, while adherent denotes a person who adheres. Across centuries, adherere and its descendants retained the core meaning of sticking or clinging, expanding into metaphorical adherence as loyalty, obedience, or conformity in social and legal contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Adhere" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Adhere"
-ear sounds
-eer sounds
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Pronounced /ədˈhɪər/ (US) or /ədˈhɪə/ (UK/AU). The first syllable is unstressed (ə), the second syllable carries primary stress (ˈ). The vowel in the second syllable is a long ‘ear’ sound (ɪə or ɪər). Tip: start with a light, quick schwa, then slide into a clear /h/ release before the /ɪə/ diphthong. Mouth position: light mouth opening for the schwa, then a shallow h with a slight breath, followed by the folded tongue to form /ɪə/ or /ɪər/.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (saying /ˈæd.hɪər/ or /ædˈhɪər/ wrong syllable), and treating the second syllable as a pure /ɪ/ instead of the /ɪə/ diphthong. Another error is dropping the /d/ sound in rapid speech, producing /əˈhɪər/ or /ədˈhɪr/. Correction: emphasize the /d/ to connect the syllables (ad-HEAR), clearly pronounce the /h/ and glide into /ɪə/. Practice by isolating the /d/ with a quick release, then a deliberate /ɪə/ glide.
In US English, you’ll hear /ədˈhɪɚ/ with rhoticity ending in /ɚ/ or a rhotacized /ər/ in some dialects, and a rounded /ɪɚ/ diphthong. UK English typically renders it /ədˈhɪə/ with a non-rhotic ending, the final vowel gliding into /ə/ or /ɜː/ depending on region. Australian English often aligns with UK but may have a slightly more centralized or back quality in the /ɪə/ diphthong, and the /r/ is not pronounced in most non-rhotic varieties. The crucial differences lie in rhoticity and the precise vowel quality of the second syllable.
The difficulty centers on the /ɪə/ or /ɪər/ diphthong in the second syllable and the need to connect it smoothly to the /d/ consonant, which can be challenging in fast speech. The initial unstressed schwa in the first syllable can also be subtle, causing misstress or vowel reduction. Additionally, speakers from some backgrounds may substitute a simple /ɪ/ or a stronger /iː/, misplacing the glide. Focus on a clean /d/ release, then a controlled /ɪə/ glide to maintain correct timing.
When spoken quickly, some speakers may create a light assimilation that makes the phrase “adhere to” sound almost like /ədˈhɪə təʊ/ (US: /toʊ/). The emphasis remains on adhere; the following “to” is unstressed and reduced. To keep it crisp, practice linking: ad- HERE to, with a brief, almost silent /t/ release before the /tə/ of to. This helps avoid a clumsy separation and preserves the correct stress pattern.
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