Adhere vs Comply vs Follow vs Obey vs Stick

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Adhere

Formal Top 3,000 (common) C1 verb

Comply

Top 5,000 (fairly common) C1 verb

Follow

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Obey

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

Stick

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Most formal: Adhere

	Adhere	Comply	Follow	Obey	Stick
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ədˈhɪə(r)/","/ədˈhɪəz/","/ədˈhɪəd/","/ədˈhɪərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ədˈhɪr/","/ədˈhɪrz/","/ədˈhɪrd/","/ədˈhɪrɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈplaɪ/","/kəmˈplaɪz/","/kəmˈplaɪd/","/kəmˈplaɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈplaɪ/","/kəmˈplaɪz/","/kəmˈplaɪd/","/kəmˈplaɪɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/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 follow rules or requests.	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.	They refused to comply with the UN resolution.	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 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	C1	C1	A1	B2	B1
Part of speech	verb	verb	verb	verb	verb
Collocations	closely, firmly, rigidly, to	fully, reluctantly, happily, fail to, refuse to, with	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	disobey, ignore, flout	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.	Using 'comply' without the preposition 'with'., Confusing 'comply' with 'compromise'., Misusing the tense, such as saying 'complyed'.	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.	Used in formal contexts, such as legal settings or official instructions. Less common in casual conversations. Avoid using in situations where agreement is more appropriate.	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 Comply vs Follow vs Obey vs Stick

What's the difference between Adhere, Comply, Follow, Obey, and Stick?

Adhere: To stick to something or follow it closely. Comply: To follow rules or requests. 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, Comply, Follow, Obey, and Stick?

Adhere is the most formal of these.

Are Adhere, Comply, Follow, Obey, and Stick the same CEFR level?

Adhere: C1, Comply: C1, Follow: A1, Obey: B2, Stick: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Adhere, Comply, Follow, Obey, and Stick?

Adhere: verb, Comply: 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. Comply: They refused to comply with the UN resolution. 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, Comply, Follow, Obey, and Stick interchangeably?

Not always. Adhere, Comply, 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.