Aqueous dispersions prepared by polymerization of vinyl acetate, ethylene, and comonomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters of aliphatic (C.sub.3 -C.sub.18)-carboxylic acids, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, and maleic acid diesters of aliphatic (C.sub.1 -C.sub.18)-alcohols in the presence of 0.05 to 0.95% by weight of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids, 0 to 0.95% by weight of methacrylic acid esters or acrylic acid esters which carry epoxide or hydroxyl groups, and 1.5 to 20% by weight of cellulose ether, to form a copolymer having a glass transition temperature of -40.degree. to 0.degree. C. and comprising a cellulose ether in at least partly grafted form, are suitable as adhesives, for example, for gluing polyolefins.