[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clingy.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / clingy

[← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/C/)

# clingy

«clingy» in Mova's school dictionary: **Always wanting to be close to someone and not wanting to…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (clingy, clingier, clingiest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (of a person or pet) Always wanting to be close to someone and not wanting to be left alone: a clingy toddler. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#m1)

2) (of clothes or material) Sticking closely to the body or to things: a clingy T-shirt, clingy plastic wrap. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life and stories it describes babies, pets or friends who need lots of attention; in family talk it can be teasing. Phrases: clingy baby, a bit clingy, clingy friend.

### examples

- The puppy was clingy and followed me everywhere. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x1)
- My little brother is clingy on his first day at nursery. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x2)
- Don't be so clingy — let her play with others too. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x3)
- The wet T-shirt was clingy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x4)
- Cling film is clingy plastic for wrapping food. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x5)
- The kitten got clingy when we packed our suitcases. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/#x6)

### note

Forms: clingier, clingiest. From the verb "cling" (hold on tightly; past clung). Calling someone clingy can hurt; it is often a sign they feel unsure.

### In the corpora

- ["Clingy" means anxious and unwilling to leave the parent.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/15-behaviour-and-school-reports/8/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «clingy» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clingy/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.