cling – English verb conjugation

English verb forms of cling

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to cling to
Participle: clung to
Gerund: clinging to

Cognates

See the 2 cognates of cling

Indicative

Present

Icling to
youcling to
he;she;itclings to
wecling to
youcling to
theycling to

Perfect

Ihave clung to
youhave clung to
he;she;ithas clung to
wehave clung to
youhave clung to
theyhave clung to

Past

Iclung to
youclung to
he;she;itclung to
weclung to
youclung to
theyclung to

Pluperfect

Ihad clung to
youhad clung to
he;she;ithad clung to
wehad clung to
youhad clung to
theyhad clung to

Future

Iwill cling to
youwill cling to
he;she;itwill cling to
wewill cling to
youwill cling to
theywill cling to

Future Perfect

Iwill have clung to
youwill have clung to
he;she;itwill have clung to
wewill have clung to
youwill have clung to
theywill have clung to

Subjunctive

Present

Icling to
youcling to
he;she;itcling to
wecling to
youcling to
theycling to

Perfect

Ihave clung to
youhave clung to
he;she;ithave clung to
wehave clung to
youhave clung to
theyhave clung to

Imperfect

Iclung to
youclung to
he;she;itclung to
weclung to
youclung to
theyclung to

Pluperfect

Ihad clung to
youhad clung to
he;she;ithad clung to
wehad clung to
youhad clung to
theyhad clung to

Conditional

Present

Iwould cling to
youwould cling to
he;she;itwould cling to
wewould cling to
youwould cling to
theywould cling to

Perfect

Iwould have clung to
youwould have clung to
he;she;itwould have clung to
wewould have clung to
youwould have clung to
theywould have clung to

Imperative

youcling to
weLet's cling to
youcling to

Progressive (Continuous) Forms

Indicative

Present

Iam clinging to
youare clinging to
he;she;itis clinging to
weare clinging to
youare clinging to
theyare clinging to

Perfect

Ihave been clinging to
youhave been clinging to
he;she;ithas been clinging to
wehave been clinging to
youhave been clinging to
theyhave been clinging to

Past

Iwas clinging to
youwere clinging to
he;she;itwas clinging to
wewere clinging to
youwere clinging to
theywere clinging to

Pluperfect

Ihad been clinging to
youhad been clinging to
he;she;ithad been clinging to
wehad been clinging to
youhad been clinging to
theyhad been clinging to

Future

Iwill be clinging to
youwill be clinging to
he;she;itwill be clinging to
wewill be clinging to
youwill be clinging to
theywill be clinging to

Future Perfect

Iwill have been clinging to
youwill have been clinging to
he;she;itwill have been clinging to
wewill have been clinging to
youwill have been clinging to
theywill have been clinging to

Conditional

Present

Iwould be clinging to
youwould be clinging to
he;she;itwould be clinging to
wewould be clinging to
youwould be clinging to
theywould be clinging to

Perfect

Iwould have been clinging to
youwould have been clinging to
he;she;itwould have been clinging to
wewould have been clinging to
youwould have been clinging to
theywould have been clinging to

Other

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)