follow

[ fol-oh ]

verb (used with object)

1. to come after in sequence, order of time, etc.:

   The speech follows the dinner.

   Antonyms: precede

2. to go or come after; move behind in the same direction:

   Drive ahead, and I'll follow you.

   Antonyms: lead

3. to accept as a guide or leader; accept the authority of or give allegiance to:

   Many Germans followed Hitler.

   Synonyms: obey

   Antonyms: lead

4. to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey:

   to follow orders; to follow advice.

   Synonyms: observe, heed

   Antonyms: disregard

5. to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar:

   They follow the latest fads.

6. to move forward along (a road, path, etc.):

   Follow this road for a mile.

7. to come after as a result or consequence; result from:

   Reprisals often follow victory.

8. to go after or along with (a person) as companion.

   Synonyms: attend, accompany

9. to go in pursuit of:

   to follow an enemy.

   Synonyms: trace, track, trail, chase, pursue

   Antonyms: flee

10. to try for or attain to:

    to follow an ideal.

11. to engage in or be concerned with as a pursuit:

    He followed the sea as his true calling.

12. to watch the movements, progress, or course of:

    to follow a bird in flight.

13. to watch the development of or keep up with:

    to follow the news.

14. Digital Technology. to indicate interest in and establish a connection with (a social media account) so as to keep up with the online content it publishes, as posts, images, or videos:

    I follow my friends and some celebrities on Twitter, but nobody who tweets political stuff.

15. to keep up with and understand (an argument, story, etc.):

    Do you follow me?

verb (used without object)

1. to come next after something else in sequence, order of time, etc.
2. to happen or occur after something else; come next as an event:

   After the defeat great disorder followed.

3. to attend or serve.
4. to go or come after a person or thing in motion.
5. to result as an effect; occur as a consequence:

   It follows then that he must be innocent.

   Synonyms: proceed, arise

noun

1. the act of following.
2. Digital Technology. an instance of following or subscribing to online content published by a social media account:

   Using hashtags is one way to get more follows on Instagram.

3. Billiards, Pool. follow shot ( def 2 ).
4. follow-up ( def 3 ).

adjective

1. Digital Technology. noting or relating to a feature used to follow or subscribe to specific website content: follow numbers and other digital marketing statistics.

   a follow link;

   follow numbers and other digital marketing statistics.

verb phrase

1. 1. to carry out fully, as a stroke of a club in golf, a racket in tennis, etc.
   2. to continue an effort, plan, proposal, policy, etc., to its completion.
2. 1. to pursue closely and tenaciously.
   2. to increase the effectiveness of by further action or repetition.
   3. to pursue to a solution or conclusion.
3. to carry to a conclusion; execute:

   They followed out their orders to the letter.

follow

/ ˈfɒləʊ /

verb

1. to go or come after in the same direction

   he followed his friend home

2. tr to accompany; attend

   she followed her sister everywhere

3. to come after as a logical or natural consequence
4. tr to keep to the course or track of

   she followed the towpath

5. tr to act in accordance with; obey

   to follow instructions

6. tr to accept the ideas or beliefs of (a previous authority, etc)

   he followed Donne in most of his teachings

7. to understand (an explanation, argument, etc)

   the lesson was difficult to follow

8. to watch closely or continuously

   she followed his progress carefully

9. tr to have a keen interest in

   to follow athletics

10. tr to help in the cause of or accept the leadership of

    the men who followed Napoleon

11. tr to choose to receive messages posted by (a blogger or microblogger)

    I've been following her online

12. rare.
    tr to earn a living at or in

    to follow the Navy

13. follow suit
    cards
    1. to play a card of the same suit as the card played immediately before it
    2. to do the same as someone else

noun

1. billiards snooker
   1. a forward spin imparted to a cue ball causing it to roll after the object ball
   2. a shot made in this way

Derived Forms

• ˈfollowable, adjective

Other Words From

• follow·a·ble adjective
• un·follow·a·ble adjective
• un·followed adjective
• well-followed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of follow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English fol(o)wen, Old English folgian; cognate with Old Saxon folgōn, Old High German folgēn, folgōn ( German folgen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of follow¹

Old English folgian ; related to Old Frisian folgia , Old Saxon folgōn , Old High German folgēn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. follow suit. suit ( def 21 ).

More idioms and phrases containing follow

• as follows
• camp follower
• hard act to follow

Synonym Study

Follow, ensue, result, succeed imply coming after something else, in a natural sequence. Follow is the general word: We must wait to see what follows. A detailed account follows. Ensue implies a logical sequence, what might be expected normally to come after a given act, cause, etc.: When the power lines were cut, a paralysis of transportation ensued. Result emphasizes the connection between a cause or event and its effect, consequence, or outcome: The accident resulted in injuries to those involved. Succeed implies coming after in time, particularly coming into a title, office, etc.: Formerly the oldest son succeeded to his father's title.

Example Sentences

That followed November’s elections when four new states legalized recreational marijuana, and two legalized medicinal use.

From Quartz

Isaiah Todd soon followed, shunning a scholarship offer from Michigan.

From Washington Post

“It’s really — it’s crazy times, and I’m not too scared of getting it personally, but I’m following all the rules that I’ve been told to follow,” Oshie said.

From Washington Post

A witness told investigators that the Sikorsky S-76B disappeared into clouds as it followed the route of Highway 101 through a pass in the hills, a moment that also was recorded on video.

From Washington Post

Then came the last president’s attempts to overturn the election results, followed by a violent insurrection at the Capitol and an inauguration held under tight covid restrictions and an ominous military presence.

From Washington Post

Tend to your own garden, to quote the great sage of free speech, Voltaire, and invite people to follow your example.

From The Daily Beast

They prevailed last August, obtaining—follow me here—an injunction prohibiting the enforcement of those provisions.

From The Daily Beast

The follow-up story is how those who survived both the competitive onslaught, as well as the recession, have adapted.

From The Daily Beast

JetBlue has been flying charter jets to Cuba for three years, and others are sure to follow.

From The Daily Beast

An attorney was asked to follow up, but no records indicate what happened next.

From The Daily Beast

In 1856 she married Mesdag, who, rather late in life decided to follow the career of a painter.

From Project Gutenberg

You will follow the suite of my daughter to Spain, and you will become the bosom Counsellor of the wife of your Prince?

From Project Gutenberg

She now understood nearly all that was said directly to her, though she could not follow general and confused conversation.

From Project Gutenberg

A test examination would follow of a perfunctory character, and an intimation of your appointment would be the sequel.

From Project Gutenberg

These are obtained easily, whence follow the sinister reports that they give your Majesty, to the harm of the public welfare.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adhere to
• adopt
• attend
• keep
• observe
• reflect
• serve
• support
• watch