adherir

Adherir is a Spanish verb that means to stick or to adhere to something. It can refer to physical adhesion, as when a substance adheres to a surface, and to figurative adherence, such as complying with rules or joining a group, idea, or movement. The reflexive form adherirse is used when the subject joins or commits itself to a cause, policy, or organization.

Etymology and form: adherir comes from Latin adhaerere, literally “to cling to” (ad- “to” + haerere “to cling”). In usage, adherir is often preferred in technical or formal contexts, while pegar is common for everyday sticking, and adherirse is used for joining or aligning with ideas, norms, or affiliations.

Usage and examples: as a transitive verb, adherir takes a direct object in physical contexts (for example, a substance adheres a label to a container) and in figurative contexts (a person adheres to a rule or a group). The noun adherencia or adhesión describes the act or state of sticking or joining; adherente refers to an adherent or supporter; adhesivo is an adhesive.

Notes: adherir is used across Spanish-speaking regions, with nuance shifts between literal sticking and ideological or organizational alignment. In everyday language, pegar or unirse to a group can convey similar ideas, but adherir often carries a more formal or technical connotation, especially in policy, legal, or scientific contexts.

See also: adhesión, adherente, adherirse, adherido, adhesivo.