Adhere — A Vocabulary Story
The Sticker That Would Not Die
Wesley had a problem, and the problem was stuck to his forehead. A bright gold star sticker — won at swimming — had decided to adhere to his skin and absolutely refuse to leave.
Adhere means to stick firmly to a surface. It can also mean to follow a rule, belief or plan closely, or to remain loyal or attached to a person, group or idea.
"Just peel it off," said his friend Anouk.
"I tried!" wailed Wesley. "It adheres like glue!"
The star clung on with terrifying loyalty. Water didn't shift it. Soap made it adhere even harder. It stuck to his forehead through breakfast, through the bus, and straight into the classroom, where everyone immediately noticed.
"Nice star," sniggered a boy named Dexter.
Wesley tried to look dignified. It's difficult to look dignified when a sticker is adhering to your face like a tiny gold limpet.
At break, Anouk had a plan. She rubbed a little hand cream around the edges. Slowly, gently, the star that had adhered so stubbornly began to loosen.
Pop. Off it came at last.
Wesley cheered — then, to everyone's surprise, stuck it right back on. "You know what? I earned this star. I'm going to adhere to it proudly."
He wore it all day, on purpose now. By home time, half the class had stuck stars to their own foreheads too, in loyal, gold-spangled solidarity.
Word Definition
adhere
meaning
to stick firmly to a surface; to follow a rule, belief or plan closely; to remain loyal or attached to a person, group or idea
synonyms
stick · cling · obey · follow · abide
antonyms
detach · disobey
example sentence
The sticker would not adhere to the damp wall.