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stick to

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

Don't change from what you decided, planned, or promised.

Literal meaning: To be physically attached to and stay on a surface.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To continue with a plan, decision, or commitment without changing or giving up.

"If you want to lose weight, you need to stick to the diet for at least three months."

"Stick to the plan."

— Breaking Bad, Season 3 (widely cited line; spoken by Walter White)
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

To remain on a subject and not digress or go off-topic.

"Please stick to the topic — we can discuss other issues after the meeting."

Grammar: inseparable
3 A2 neutral

To physically cling or adhere to a surface.

"The wet leaves stuck to the windscreen and blocked the driver's view."

Grammar: inseparable
4 B2 neutral

To limit oneself to a particular thing, avoiding other options.

"He doesn't drink spirits — he sticks to beer."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Extremely versatile and common. 'Stick to the point/script/plan' are standard collocations. The physical sense (glue sticking) is transparent. 'Stick to your guns' is a fixed idiom meaning to maintain your position under pressure.

Commonly used with

plan diet decision point rules budget

Forms

Base
stick to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sticks to
he/she/it
Past simple
stuck to
yesterday
Past participle
stuck to
have + pp
-ing form
sticking to
continuous

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Synonyms

adhere to keep to stay with commit to follow hold to

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