Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to cling
Participle: clung
Gerund: clinging
Indicative
Present
| I | cling |
| you | cling |
| he;she;it | clings |
| we | cling |
| you | cling |
| they | cling |
Perfect
| I | have clung |
| you | have clung |
| he;she;it | has clung |
| we | have clung |
| you | have clung |
| they | have clung |
Past
| I | clung |
| you | clung |
| he;she;it | clung |
| we | clung |
| you | clung |
| they | clung |
Pluperfect
| I | had clung |
| you | had clung |
| he;she;it | had clung |
| we | had clung |
| you | had clung |
| they | had clung |
Future
| I | will cling |
| you | will cling |
| he;she;it | will cling |
| we | will cling |
| you | will cling |
| they | will cling |
Future Perfect
| I | will have clung |
| you | will have clung |
| he;she;it | will have clung |
| we | will have clung |
| you | will have clung |
| they | will have clung |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | cling |
| you | cling |
| he;she;it | cling |
| we | cling |
| you | cling |
| they | cling |
Perfect
| I | have clung |
| you | have clung |
| he;she;it | have clung |
| we | have clung |
| you | have clung |
| they | have clung |
Imperfect
| I | clung |
| you | clung |
| he;she;it | clung |
| we | clung |
| you | clung |
| they | clung |
Pluperfect
| I | had clung |
| you | had clung |
| he;she;it | had clung |
| we | had clung |
| you | had clung |
| they | had clung |
Conditional
Present
| I | would cling |
| you | would cling |
| he;she;it | would cling |
| we | would cling |
| you | would cling |
| they | would cling |
Perfect
| I | would have clung |
| you | would have clung |
| he;she;it | would have clung |
| we | would have clung |
| you | would have clung |
| they | would have clung |
Imperative
| you | cling |
| we | Let's cling |
| you | cling |
Verbs conjugated like 'cling'
cling,
dig,
fling,
hamstring,
sling,
slink,
stick,
sting,
string,
swing,
underdig,
unstick,
unstring,
wring,
foind,
outfling,
overswing,
restick,
restring,
undersling, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)
Verbs similar to 'cling'
ching,
clang,
clink,
fling,
sling,
aline,
bing,
blin,
blind,
blink,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- hold tightly
- grasp
- adhere
- adhere
- to hold firmly, particularly with the hand
- begrasp, begrip, belock, clasp, clench, clinch, clutch, enclasp, fang, fondle, glaum, grab, grabble, grasp, grip, hang on, hold, hold on, hold tight, nim, seize, stranglehold, take
- to become or remain attached
- adhere, attach, cleave, conglutinate, stick, stick together, stick with
- stick
- adhere, clasp, cleave, attach, cohere
Additional Information
Cf. Old English strong verb clingan (cling), slincan (slink), spinnan (spin), stingan (sting), swingan (swing), gewinnan (win) and
wringan (wring).
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump. See: Middle English '
clingen', Old English '
clingan', Proto-Germanic '
*klinganą', Danish '
klynge'.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] full without delay. It being impossible to stand or sit without holding on, they were all heaped together in one corner of a long sofa—a fixture extending entirely across the cabin—where they clung to each other in momentary expectation of being drowned. When I approached this place with my specific, and was about to administer it with many consolatory expressions to the nearest sufferer, [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] left the stranger, now vainly strove to pull her from her mother; and though she yielded her usual instantaneous obedience to my signal to follow me, it was evidently with painful reluctance. She clung close to me, as if bewildered and fearful; and when, after a moment, I took her to her mother, she sprang to her arms, and clung to her with eager joy.
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] to follow me, it was evidently with painful reluctance. She clung close to me, as if bewildered and fearful; and when, after a moment, I took her to her mother, she sprang to her arms, and clung to her with eager joy.
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
‘Laura accompanied her mother to the door, clinging close to her all the way, until they arrived at the threshold, where she paused, and felt around, to ascertain who was near her. Perceiving the matron, of whom she is very fond, she grasped her [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
It was a sparkling, frosty, starlight night, and the mother wrapped the shawl close round her child, as, perfectly quiet with vague terror, he clung round her neck. ~~~ Old Bruno, a great Newfoundland, who slept at the end of the porch, rose, with a low growl, as she came near. She gently spoke his name, and the animal, an old pet and playmate [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
“ What else could she spect on him ? ” said Aunt Chloe, indignantly, while the two boys, who now seemed to comprehend at once their father's destiny, clung to her gown, sobbing and groaning vehemently.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
[...] not very likely in the abstract, but was probable enough, to the young mother. She was such an artless little creature; and was in such a sunny, beaming, hopeful state; and let out all this matter clinging close about her heart, so freely; that all the other lady passengers entered into the spirit of it as much as she; and the captain (who heard all about it from his wife ) was wondrous sly, I promise [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] among the other boats, to find a landing-place: and everybody looked for the husband: and nobody saw him: when, in the midst of us all—Heaven knows how she ever got there—there was the little woman clinging with both arms tight round the neck of a fine, good-looking, sturdy young fellow ! and in a moment afterwards, there she was again, actually clapping her little hands for joy, as she dragged him [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
Jim came out first, and carefully assisted out his old mother, who clung to his arm, and looked anxiously about, as if she expected the pursuer every moment.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
[...] with the class they degrade as we do. They are in our homes; they are the associates of our children, and they form their minds faster than we can; for they are a race that children always will cling to and assimilate with. If Eva, now, was not more angel than ordinary, she would be ruined. We might as well allow the small-pox to run among them, and think our children would not take it, as to [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)