Cool MateAdhere vs Attach vs Follow vs Obey vs Stick
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Adhere
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb
Attach
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Follow
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Obey
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Stick
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most formal: Adhere
| Adhere | Attach | Follow | Obey | Stick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈhɪə(r)/","/ədˈhɪəz/","/ədˈhɪəd/","/ədˈhɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈhɪr/","/ədˈhɪrz/","/ədˈhɪrd/","/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɒləʊ/","/ˈfɒləʊz/","/ˈfɒləʊd/","/ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɑːləʊ/","/ˈfɑːləʊz/","/ˈfɑːləʊd/","/ˈfɑːləʊɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈbeɪ/","/əˈbeɪz/","/əˈbeɪd/","/əˈbeɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈbeɪ/","/əˈbeɪz/","/əˈbeɪd/","/əˈbeɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/stɪk/","/stɪks/","/stʌk/","/ˈstɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɪk/","/stɪks/","/stʌk/","/ˈstɪkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To stick to something or follow it closely. | to connect or fasten something to another thing | To go after someone or something or do what they do. | To do what someone tells you to do. | A thin piece of wood or similar material. |
| Example | Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells. | Please attach the document to your email before sending it. | I will follow you to the store. | In order to maintain order, everyone must obey the rules. | I need to stick this poster on the wall. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 | A1 | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | verb | verb |
| Collocations | closely, firmly, rigidly, to | firmly, securely, loosely, to | closely, reluctantly, dutifully, beckon somebody to, beckon to somebody to, being followed, follow close behind (somebody), follow right behind (somebody), closely, quickly, shortly, (be) followed by something, follow in the wake of something, closely, quickly, shortly, (be) followed by something, follow in the wake of something, carefully, to the letter, dutifully, faithfully, blindly, slavishly, be expected to, be likely to, follow in somebody’s footsteps, follow in the tradition of somebody/something, follow suit, not necessarily, logically, naturally, (on) from, not quite, be easy to, be difficult to, be hard to | immediately, instantly, quickly, have to, must, refuse to, be only obeying orders, a duty to obey, an obligation to obey | close, closely, rigidly, in, into, on, tend to, decide to, be determined to, close, closely, rigidly, in, into, on, tend to, decide to, be determined to |
| Antonyms | detach, separate, disobey | detach, remove | lead, precede, guide | disobey, ignore | block, obstacle |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'adhere to' vs 'stick to' — they are not interchangeable., Using 'adhere' without a clear object — it needs to specify what is being adhered to., Assuming 'adhere' can only refer to physical sticking — it can also refer to following rules. | Confused with 'detach' – forgetting to use the right prefix., Using 'attaching' incorrectly in passive constructions., Not following with an object, e.g., 'attach to' instead of 'attach the document to'. | Confusing 'follow' with 'lead' — they have opposite meanings., Using 'follow' without an object (e.g., 'I will follow' should specify who or what)., Mistakenly using 'follows' in the past tense instead of 'followed'. | Confused with 'obeyed' in past tense usage., Using 'obey' without an object, which is incorrect., Mixing up 'obey' with 'comply' - they are similar but not interchangeable. | Confused with 'stick' as a verb and its different meanings., Using it in plural form when referring to the concept generally., Mispronouncing the word, particularly in different dialects. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts, often in legal or technical language. It's appropriate when discussing rules, guidelines, or sticky substances, but less common in casual conversation. | Use 'attach' for both physical and abstract connections, like emails or documents. Less common in very formal writing. Avoid with informal language unless using slang. | Use 'follow' when discussing tracking someone physically or conceptually (like ideas or trends). For social media, 'follow' often describes subscribing to someone's updates. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts. | Use 'obey' in contexts involving rules, laws, or authority figures. It's suitable for both formal and casual situations, but avoid using it with someone you know well unless discussing serious issues. | Used to describe a natural object found outdoors or as a tool. Avoid in formal contexts when describing something more substantial. |
Frequently asked questions: Adhere vs Attach vs Follow vs Obey vs Stick
What's the difference between Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick?
Adhere: To stick to something or follow it closely. Attach: to connect or fasten something to another thing Follow: To go after someone or something or do what they do. Obey: To do what someone tells you to do. Stick: A thin piece of wood or similar material.
Which is more formal: Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick?
Adhere is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick?
Adhere is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick the same CEFR level?
Adhere: C1, Attach: B1, Follow: A1, Obey: B2, Stick: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick?
Adhere: verb, Attach: verb, Follow: verb, Obey: verb, Stick: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Adhere: Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells. Attach: Please attach the document to your email before sending it. Follow: I will follow you to the store. Obey: In order to maintain order, everyone must obey the rules. Stick: I need to stick this poster on the wall.
Can I use Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick interchangeably?
Not always. Adhere, Attach, Follow, Obey, and Stick are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.