cling
gb/klˈɪŋ/ us/klˈɪŋ/
B1
English
rátapad, kapaszkodik, ragaszkodik, csüng, testhez simul, megmarad, beleivódik, megül
VERB
B1
1
rátapad
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] clings to [surface/object]
Wet sand clung to his feet after the walk.
A séta után nedves homok tapadt a lábára.
The label wouldn’t cling to the bottle once it got damp.
Miután átnedvesedett, a címke már nem tapadt rá a palackra.
A few droplets clung to the rim of the cup.
Learner examples
The mud clung to my shoes.
A sár rátapadt a cipőmre.
The sticker clings to the glass.
A matrica rátapad az üvegre.
Common mistake:
Cling is usually followed by to (not *cling on the wall*).
Meaning
stick firmly to a surface
Collocations
cling to the wall
|cling to the side
|cling to the glass
|cling to the surface
|cling to the skin
|cling to leaves
|cling tightly
|cling stubbornly
Synonyms
adhere (More formal and technical-sounding than cling.)
|
stick (More general; cling suggests a tighter, more persistent attachment.)
Antonyms
detach (Focuses on coming off or being separated.)
|
fall off (Emphasizes dropping away by gravity.)
Themes
daily_life
|physical_world
Definition
to stick strongly to something
To stay attached to a surface or object tightly, especially as if glued or held by friction or suction.
VERB
B1
2
kapaszkodik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] clings to [something/someone]
She clung to the handrail as the bus lurched forward.
Szorosan kapaszkodott a kapaszkodóba, amikor a busz hirtelen előrerándult.
He clung to the rock until the wind eased.
Addig kapaszkodott a sziklába, amíg el nem ült a szél.
The child clung to his father’s leg in the crowd.
Learner examples
Hold the rail and cling to it.
Fogd meg a korlátot, és kapaszkodj bele.
The baby clung to her mother.
A kisbaba szorosan az anyukájába kapaszkodott.
Common mistake:
Use cling to for gripping: *cling to the rail* (not *cling the rail*).
Meaning
hold on tightly for support
Collocations
cling to the railing
|cling to the rope
|cling to the edge
|cling to a branch
|cling to someone's arm
|cling tightly
|cling desperately
Synonyms
grip (Emphasizes the hand’s action; cling suggests not wanting to let go.)
|
hold on (Common and neutral; cling is more vivid and intense.)
Antonyms
let go (Direct opposite: stop holding.)
|
release (More formal; emphasizes the act of freeing.)
Themes
daily_life
|movement
|safety
Definition
to hold on very tightly
To hold someone or something very tightly, especially to avoid falling or being separated.
VERB
B2
3
ragaszkodik
B1
csüng
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] clings to [someone]
After the move, he clung to his sister and refused to explore the new school.
A költözés után csak a nővéréhez ragaszkodott, és nem volt hajlandó körülnézni az új iskolában.
She worried that she was clinging to him instead of building her own life.
Attól tartott, hogy csak rajta csüng, ahelyett hogy a saját életét építené.
The dog clung to its owner after the thunderstorm.
Learner examples
The little boy clung to his mom.
A kisfiú folyton az anyukáján csüngött.
Don’t cling to me all day.
Ne csüngj rajtam egész nap.
Common mistake:
This sense can sound negative; for neutral closeness, speakers may say stay close instead.
Meaning
stay very close, needing comfort
Collocations
cling to his mother
|cling to her boyfriend
|cling to someone for support
|cling to someone emotionally
|clingy child
|cling nervously
Synonyms
depend on (Focuses on need and reliance, not physical closeness.)
|
attach oneself to (Highlights emotional dependence; slightly formal.)
Antonyms
be independent (Not needing others for support.)
|
keep one's distance (Avoiding closeness or contact.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|family
Definition
to stay very close because you need someone
To stay very close to someone for emotional security or help, often in a dependent or needy way.
VERB
B2
4
ragaszkodik
B1
kapaszkodik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] clings to [belief/hope/plan]
He still clung to the belief that things would go back to normal.
Még mindig ragaszkodott ahhoz a meggyőződéséhez, hogy a dolgok visszatérnek a régi kerékvágásba.
She clung to the hope of seeing him again.
Abba a reménybe kapaszkodott, hogy újra láthatja.
It’s time to stop clinging to excuses and make a change.
Learner examples
I clung to hope.
A reménybe kapaszkodtam.
He clings to his old ideas.
Ragaszkodik a régi elképzeléseihez.
Common mistake:
Cling to is more emotional than keep; it often implies resisting reality.
Meaning
refuse to give up an idea
Collocations
cling to the hope
|cling to the idea
|cling to a dream
|cling to a plan
|cling to a belief
|cling to tradition
|cling to old habits
Synonyms
hold on to (More general; cling to suggests stronger emotion or stubbornness.)
|
stick with (Often practical/neutral; cling to is more emotional.)
Antonyms
abandon (Give up completely.)
|
let go of (Often used for beliefs or feelings; emphasizes releasing.)
Themes
thinking
|emotions
|life_choices
Definition
to keep believing or hoping, and not change
To continue to believe in, rely on, or hope for something even when it is no longer likely or helpful.
VERB
B2
5
rátapad
B2
Usage pattern:
[clothes/fabric] cling to [body/shape]
The wet T-shirt clung to his back.
A vizes póló rátapadt a hátára.
This fabric clings to the body, so choose your size carefully.
Ez az anyag testhez simul, ezért jól válaszd meg a méretet.
The dress clung in the heat and felt uncomfortable.
Learner examples
My shirt clings when it is wet.
Az ingem vizesen rám tapad.
The dress clings to my body.
A ruha a testemhez simul.
Common mistake:
Use cling to describe tight fit; not the same as fit (which can be loose or tight).
Meaning
fit tightly and follow the body
Collocations
dress clings
|shirt clings
|fabric clings
|cling to your body
|cling to the skin
|cling uncomfortably
|cling when wet
Synonyms
hug (Informal; often used for clothing that fits close in a flattering way.)
|
fit tightly (More neutral and descriptive; less vivid than cling.)
Antonyms
hang loosely (Opposite fit: not close to the body.)
|
billow (Spread out or puff out rather than lying close.)
Themes
clothing
|daily_life
Definition
to be very tight and close to the body
(Of clothing or fabric) To fit very closely and tightly to the body or another surface, showing its shape.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
[something] clings to [place/person] | [something] clings
The smell of smoke clung to her hair.
A füstszag beleivódott a hajába.
A thin mist clung to the valley all morning.
Egész délelőtt vékony köd ülte meg a völgyet.
Even after he apologized, a sense of doubt clung to the story.
Learner examples
The smell clung to my jacket.
A szag beleivódott a dzsekimbe.
The fog clung to the hills.
A köd megülte a dombokat.
Common mistake:
With smells/feelings, cling is often used with to: the smell clung to his clothes.
Meaning
remain and be hard to remove
Collocations
smell clings
|scent clings
|fog clung to the hills
|doubt clings
|guilt clings
|memory clings
|cling to clothes
|cling in the air
Synonyms
linger (Common for smells/feelings; less sense of being stuck.)
|
remain (Neutral and general; less vivid than cling.)
Antonyms
fade (Gradually become weaker or less noticeable.)
|
disappear (Go away completely.)
Themes
emotions
|environment
|daily_life
Definition
to stay for a long time and not go away
To remain for a long time and not disappear easily, especially of a smell, feeling, memory, fog, or doubt.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cling
IPA
GB/klˈɪŋ/
US/klˈɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
cling (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cling)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: cling
- 3rd Person Singular: clings
- Present Participle: clinging
- Past: clung
- Past Participle: clung
Word family
Forms
clings
verb
clinging
verb
clung
verb
Core family
clingy
adjective
Related words
clinger
noun
Advanced or less common
clinginess
noun
Expressions
cling on
1/klˈɪŋ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
continue or survive with difficulty
to continue, even when it is hard
Examples
- The team clung on to win by a single point.
- After a tough first year, the business clung on and slowly recovered.
- He was exhausted but clung on until the end of the race.
Learner examples
- We clung on until help arrived.
- The company clung on through the winter.
cling on to
1/klˈɪŋ ˈɔn tə/
phrasal verb
keep something and not lose it
to keep something and not let it go
Examples
- She clung on to her job during the layoffs.
- They clung on to their lead for the final ten minutes.
- He’s clinging on to the last bit of savings until payday.
Learner examples
- I clung on to my ticket.
- They clung on to their advantage.
cling to life
1/klˈɪŋ tə lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
be alive but near death
to be almost dying but still alive
Examples
- Two passengers were clinging to life after the crash.
- Doctors said he was still clinging to life late last night.
- She was badly injured but clung to life for several days.
Learner examples
- He is clinging to life in hospital.
cling to power
1/klˈɪŋ tə pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
refuse to give up control
to keep control and not step down
Examples
- Critics say the president is clinging to power despite losing public support.
- The CEO clung to power and blocked any attempt at reform.
- History shows what can happen when leaders cling to power for too long.
Learner examples
- Some leaders cling to power.
cling to the past
1/klˈɪŋ tə ðə pˈæst/
fixed phrase
refuse to accept change
to keep old ideas and not move forward
Examples
- He’s still clinging to the past and refusing to try anything new.
- The town can’t survive if it keeps clinging to the past.
- She stopped clinging to the past and started making new friends.
Learner examples
- Don’t cling to the past.