follower

[fol-oh-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that follows.

2. a person who follows another in regard to their ideas or belief; disciple or adherent.

   Synonyms: supporter
   Antonyms: foe, enemy, adversary, opponent

3. a person who imitates, copies, or takes as a model or ideal.

   He was little more than a follower of current modes.

4. an attendant, servant, or retainer.

5. a person who follows or subscribes to another's posts on a social media website.

   He spent hours figuring out how to get more followers on Twitter.

6. British Informal.,  a boyfriend or suitor, especially of a maidservant.

7. Machinery.,  a part receiving motion from or following the movements of another part, especially a cam.

8. Engineering, Building Trades.,  a concrete form attached to the head of a timber pile to permit casting of a concrete cap or pier.

follower

/ ˈfɒləʊə /

noun

1. a person who accepts the teachings of another; disciple; adherent

   a follower of Marx

2. an attendant or henchman

3. an enthusiast or supporter, as of a sport or team

4. (esp formerly) a male admirer

5. rare,  a pursuer

6. a machine part that derives its motion by following the motion of another part

Word History and Origins

Origin of follower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English folwer, Old English folgere. See follow, -er ¹

Synonym Study

Follower, adherent, partisan refer to someone who demonstrates allegiance to a person, a doctrine, a cause, or the like. Follower often has an implication of personal relationship or of slavish acquiescence. Adherent, a more formal word, has implications of active championship of a person or a point of view. Partisan, ordinarily meaning a person prejudiced and unreasoning in adherence to a party, during World War II took on the meaning of a member of certain groups in occupied countries of Europe who carried on underground resistance to the Nazis.

Example Sentences

Vance instructed Republicans to call people’s employers and have them fired if they are saying things about Kirk that his followers find offensive.

From Salon

Since May he has started to make videos about his experience and posts them on social media, where he now has 12,000 followers on TikTok.

From BBC

With more than two million followers across his social media accounts, he has been at the forefront of promoting World Athletics' new global event, the Ultimate Championship.

From BBC

Bryan, 29, who was in the Navy before reaching fame as country/Americana singer and songwriter, has 4.9 million Instagram followers.

From Los Angeles Times

But he acted out that premise at scale with impressive velocity and single-minded genius, attracting millions of dollars in backing and legions of followers.

From Salon

Related Words

• adherent 
• admirer 
• advocate 
• backer 
• believer 
• client 
• devotee 
• disciple 
• fan 
• member 
• participant 
• patron 
• supporter 
• worshiper www.thesaurus.com