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Glite Dictionary
📋 To keep doing 🩹 To attach firmly
to stick to

to stick to

41 1.8
Stay attached to a surface
  • phrasal verb
  • /stɪk tu/
translation icon : pegarse a
  • The powder-carbaryl mixture also has a binding agent that makes it stick to corn leaves.
  • stick to the wall
  • stick to the surface

That the wings of a pad stick to your underwear, not your thighs.

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Examples

  • The label began to stick to the surface of the box after a few minutes.

  • So I'm supposed to stick my eyelashes to this pad?

  • Whoa, whoa, my feet are stuck to the floor.

  • - Most importantly, stick to the road.

    Clinton Road (2019)

  • A scrap of paper is stuck to the sole of one of his shoes.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • I'm hoping that it's going to stick well to the blank canvas.

  • It's grime that is stuck to the surface of the painting.

  • They seem to be stuck to the pan.

    IF (2024)

  • I just need something on my skin for the makeup to stick to that's not sweat.

  • He's like a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe that won't let go.

    The Spirit (2008)

Synonyms

to stick
vsto stick to
769 1.0

To attach something to a surface or push it into with a point

is limited to firm attachment without inserting or piercing
to attach
vsto stick to
459 2.5

To join or fasten one thing to another so they stay together

emphasizes firm sticking specifically to a surface rather than general joining
to cling
vsto stick to
240 2.1

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

refers specifically to physical firm attachment to a surface
to fix
vsto stick to
218 1.0

To attach something firmly so it does not move

centres on sticking or adhering to a surface rather than general fixing
to tape
vsto stick to
169 1.3

To attach things using a sticky strip

describes firm attachment generally rather than using a strip of sticky material
to bind
vsto stick to
  • Specialized
131 3.9

To join two things closely so they stay together

is the everyday idea of firm surface attachment rather than specialized bonding
to mount
vsto stick to
125 3.8

To attach something to a support for display

refers to firm sticking directly to a surface rather than mounting
to fasten
vsto stick to
68 1.6

Hold something in place so it cannot move

focuses on adhesion to a surface rather than general securing
to glue
vsto stick to
50 1.8

To make someone stay in one place or keep their attention on something

is about firm joining without naming a specific adhesive method
to clamp
vsto stick to
47 3.3

Fasten something tightly to keep it from moving

means firm attachment but not using a mechanical tool
to stick on
vsto stick to
25 2.7

Put something on a surface so it stays in place

focuses on firm joining rather than the onto action specifically
to bond
vsto stick to
25 3.2

To stick two things together so they hold firmly

refers more generally to joining to a surface rather than bonding
to clip
vsto stick to
19 1.0

To fasten things together using a small metal or plastic device

focuses on sticking to a surface rather than removable fastenings
to affix
vsto stick to
18 5.0

To attach something to another thing by sticking or fastening it

uses plain language about firm attachment without formal tone
to adhere
vsto stick to
17 5.2

To stick firmly to a surface such as glass or plastic

describes the same action but in more general wording
to hold fast
vsto stick to
11 5.5

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

is limited to physical adhesion to a surface rather than commitment
to cleave
vsto stick to
  • Literature
7 7.5

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

is limited to physical adhesion rather than loyalty or faithfulness
to pin up
vsto stick to
4 3.6

To attach something to a wall or board with a pin

implies firm attachment without using piercing or pinning
to tack onto
vsto stick to
1 5.4

To fasten something to a surface with a small nail or pin

is about firm adhesion without implying tack or nail use
to paste up
vsto stick to
1 4.5

Attach posters or papers to a wall using glue

focuses on firm joining without the display or posting aspect
to latch on
vsto stick to
3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

means steady, firm attachment without the sudden taking hold sense

Antonyms

to detach
16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

to loosen
15 2.8

Make soil less hard so roots can grow

How Firm

to fuse
23 4.2
to bond
25 3.2
to stick to
41 1.8
to cling to
61 3.4

Surface Forms

stick to infinitive
sticking to present participle
sticks to third person singular
stuck to past
stuck to past participle

Morphology

stick + to

The meaning 'to adhere or attach firmly' is directly and compositionally derived from 'stick' (to stick/adhere) plus the preposition 'to', forming the expected verb + preposition construction. This is a basic, cross-linguistically common composition so an average B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Stick to comes from the simple idea of something like tape or mud that sticks to a surface and will not come off easily. So, stick to means 'to attach firmly to a surface'.