to cling to

Examples

• All

• Despite the challenges, she continued to cling to the hope of a better future.

• They continued to cling to the hope that perhaps Julien had gotten away.

  White Bird (2023)

• So it's weird how we have to fight to cling to who we are.

  Anything Goes With James English

• Or they cling to people who have similar past and shared experiences.

• We must cling to our faith.

  His Only Son (2023)

• With losing everyone, we're just trying to cling to stability.

• The only memory that she cared to cling to was her friendship with Tom.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Right now, she's clinging on to the hope of getting out.

• Despite the financial hazards, he clung to the definition of his trade as an honorable one.

  Academic text (1997)

• The child clung to his mother's hand as they crossed the busy street.

Synonyms

S

to stick

vsto cling to

∞ 3.5

To stay loyal to someone or a group

adds stronger sense of tight holding or emotional clinging under stress

H

to hang

vsto cling to

∞ 2.7

To hold on tightly so you do not let go

stresses lasting attachment or belief maintained in hard situations

S

to stick with

vsto cling to

341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

adds the sense of holding tightly to feelings or beliefs under strain

C

to cling

vsto cling to

240 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

is used for strong continued attachment especially in difficult situations

S

to stand by

vsto cling to

187 3.2

Support someone through difficult times

covers personal feelings or beliefs kept strongly in tough situations

H

to hold onto

vsto cling to

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

emphasizes ongoing clutching or emotional holding during hard times

H

to hold on

vsto cling to

141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

focuses more on lasting belief or feeling in difficult times

C

to clutch

vsto cling to

118 3.4

To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling

describes steadier, longer attachment rather than a brief tight grasp

S

to stick by

vsto cling to

• Informal

47 3.6

To stay with and support someone in hard times

is similar but also applies to holding feelings or beliefs tightly

H

to hang on

vsto cling to

• Informal

46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

focuses more on staying emotionally or physically attached under pressure

H

to hold tight

vsto cling to

• Informal

42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

applies to both physical and emotional long term attachment

S

to stick to

vsto cling to

41 1.8

Stay attached to a surface

extends this idea to strong emotional or belief attachment in hardship

N

to nurse

vsto cling to

• Informal

27 6.7

To keep a feeling or idea for a long time

is more about intense holding tightly during difficult circumstances

H

to hold to

vsto cling to

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

also includes tight physical or emotional gripping in difficult situations

H

to hold dear

vsto cling to

22 3.5

To care about someone or something very much

focuses instead on tightly keeping belief or feeling under stress

A

to adhere

vsto cling to

17 5.2

To stick firmly to a surface such as glass or plastic

broadens to include strong emotional or belief attachment in hard times

H

to hold fast

vsto cling to

11 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

adds the sense of tight physical or emotional grasp in hard times

C

to cleave

vsto cling to

• Literature

7 7.5

To stay very close to someone or something, often for support

is used for holding on strongly especially through hard times

H

to hold close

vsto cling to

1 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

covers emotional or belief attachment held through difficulty

L

to latch on

vsto cling to

3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

highlights continuing tight emotional or physical holding during difficulties

Antonyms

A

to abandon

773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

D

to disregard

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

How Strongly

to cling to

111 3.3

to insist

∞ 2.8

to accept

∞ 1.3

to consider

∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology