ensue
Americanverb (used without object)
-
ensues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
ensued,
past participle, past
-
ensuing
present participle
verb
-
(intr) to follow; come next or afterwards
-
(intr) to follow or occur as a consequence; result
-
obsolete (tr) to pursue
Synonym Usage
See follow.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
ensuesimple
-
ensuessimple
-
have ensuedperfect
-
has ensuedperfect
-
am ensuingprogressive
-
are ensuingprogressive
-
is ensuingprogressive
-
have been ensuingperfect progressive
-
has been ensuingperfect progressive
Past
-
ensuedsimple
-
had ensuedperfect
-
was ensuingprogressive
-
were ensuingprogressive
-
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
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 9, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Night
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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
The virus-carrying mosquitoes and the infections that ensue are “part of our local environment and continue to reappear year after year,” Bates-Grubb said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Once it becomes clear that returns aren’t measuring up to the scale of those outlays, a pullback in financing and stock prices could ensue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 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
Days of darkness ensue, the switches dead, the grid empty.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
A struggle ensues and the man is pulled down, with his trousers appearing to fall down, before he is arrested by officers in the garden of the property.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Five seems to be the current agreed-upon upper limit before chaos ensues — a sweet spot similar to some human teams.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 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
That eases overall stress and ensues a fair outcome.
From Barron's ● Nov. 17, 2025
Push the chair in too quickly or too slowly, or else sit too soon or too heavily, and misadventure ensues, perhaps even an unintended baptism of the hindquarters.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
They sold the rights to their creation to DC Comics and much controversy ensued.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
A standoff ensued in which, as Mr. O’Connell observes, both sides were “spooked by the situation.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The confusion that ensued became a "catalyst" for modern regulations mandating better flotation equipment on planes and preflight briefings on how to use it, aviation safety expert John Cox told AP.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
A protest at Collins’ Biddeford office ensued not long afterward.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026
A steady stream of “heir mail” announcements ensued.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
In 2017 researchers coined the term orthosomnia to describe the tendency to chase perfect scores with sleep tracking and the ensuing sleep problems, distress, and anxiety from not receiving a perfect score.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
The ensuing war saw the economically vital Strait of Hormuz paralysed and commercial shipping in the Gulf repeatedly targeted in Iranian attacks.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
He won the ensuing civil war against Pompey, his former ally, and proclaimed himself dictator.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
The outbreak and ensuing drop in foot traffic arrived as the restaurant industry remains locked in a discount war.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Deeming Sunday the best day for taking Mr. Wemmick’s Walworth sentiments, I devoted the next ensuing Sunday afternoon to a pilgrimage to the Castle.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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.
