Clung is the past tense of cling, which means to hold on tightly to something, often because you're afraid of falling or losing your grip. When a frightened kitten clings to a tree branch, it digs in its claws and won't let go. When you climb a rope in gym class, you cling to it with your hands and legs to keep from sliding down.

The word often appears when someone or something desperately holds on during difficult moments. A shipwreck survivor might have clung to a piece of driftwood for hours. A scared child clung to her mother's hand during a thunderstorm.

Clung also describes holding onto ideas or memories. Someone might say their grandfather clung to old traditions, meaning he refused to abandon the customs he grew up with. You might read that a detective clung to hope of solving a mystery, staying determined even when others gave up.

The word carries a sense of determination and desperation combined. When you cling or clung to something, you're gripping it with all your strength, as if your life depends on it, whether that's a physical object, a belief, or a relationship that matters deeply.