ensue
Americanverb (used without object)
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ensues,
present (3rd person singular)
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ensued,
past participle, past
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ensuing
present participle
verb
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(intr) to follow; come next or afterwards
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(intr) to follow or occur as a consequence; result
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obsolete (tr) to pursue
Synonym Usage
See follow.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ensuesimple
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ensuessimple
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have ensuedperfect
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has ensuedperfect
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am ensuingprogressive
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are ensuingprogressive
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is ensuingprogressive
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have been ensuingperfect progressive
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has been ensuingperfect progressive
Past
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ensuedsimple
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had ensuedperfect
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was ensuingprogressive
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were ensuingprogressive
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had been ensuingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ensue
First recorded in 1450–1500; Middle English ensuen, from Anglo-French ensuer, cognate with Old French ensui(v)re; see en- 1, sue
Explanation
If something happens after something else, it will ensue, meaning it will follow after or be the result. When a sneeze comes out, and he hears the "Achoo!," a "Bless you" or "Gesundheit" soon will ensue. One way to remember the verb ensue is to rhyme it with "due." A happening that is due to happen will ensue, "Throwing a glass of ice water in his face guaranteed that a chase would ensue." Often what follows is a response to words or actions, so what will ensue is what will happen as a consequence. A struggle might ensue if a thief grabs a purse, and a discussion might ensue if two sides disagree.
Vocabulary lists containing ensue
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If it does make a bomb, a regional arms race could ensue.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
Only the truly inattentive will be shocked that complications ensue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
It’s particularly useful as a contrarian tool when sharp falls can suggest traders are too cautious, and a rally may ensue.
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
He said job cuts that would ensue would then “debilitate” the city’s homelessness response, force the city to cut some 2,000 police officers and put its Olympics preparations “in severe jeopardy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
But see, Popkenchurch is problematic, and not because of digestive drama that may ensue.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Salterelli has seen cases where competing grandmothers both want to be guardians and a custody battle ensues.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
What ensues is a sort of dance—neither wants to make the first move.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
A comedy of errors ensues as the pair encounter numerous other famous Amandas including Amanda Holden, Amanda Lamb and Amanda Barrie.
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026
A little banter ensues, making way for the real surprise guests: fellow Olympic hockey champions Megan Keller and team captain Hilary Knight.
From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2026
More bad things happen, tragedy ensues, and nothing ends well, for anyone.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Overfishing ensued, leading to rapidly depleted supplies and bans on wild-caught sturgeon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
After the initial dust cloud that followed the collapse of the World Trade Center, months of pollution and lingering dust ensued, causing cancers from which thousands of New Yorkers still suffer today.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
They were approached by three teenagers and a scuffle ensued.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
A 60-yard passing touchdown immediately ensued on the next possession.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Within minutes an argument ensued in the living area that was as audible to me as if the separating walls were muslin sheets.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
But the ensuing row could make Seoul even more reluctant to do so, Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
The ensuing field goal felt like another missed opportunity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
The ensuing protests were violent and costly and worried many of us, not because we agreed with Mr. Yiannopoulos, but because outrage over ideas had turned students against each another.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
I’m much happier with an occasional Big Seasonal Prep Day — fill the freezer with soups, sauces, breakfast burritos and other useful things — and then let the ensuing weeks fall where they will.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
In London and Paris in the ensuing months, they could keep their eyes open for KGB trails and interview the Russian spy at length.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
