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• follow-through
  follow-through

  noun

  the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.
• follow through
  follow through

  verb

  sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc

follow-through

American  

[fol-oh-throo, -throo] / ˈfɒl oʊˌθru, -ˈθru /

noun

1. the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.

2. the portion of such a motion after the ball has been hit.

3. the act of continuing a plan, project, scheme, or the like to its completion.

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follow through British  

verb

1. sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc

2. (tr) to pursue (an aim) to a conclusion

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noun

1. sport

   1. the act of following through

   2. the part of the stroke after the ball has been hit

2. the completion of a procedure, esp after a first action

follow through Idioms  

1. In sports such as tennis or golf, carry a stroke to completion after striking the ball. For example, You don't follow through on your backhand, so it goes into the net . [Late 1800s]

2. Carry an object, project, or intention to completion; pursue fully. For example, She followed through on her promise to reorganize the department . Also see follow up , def. 1.

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Etymology

Origin of follow-through

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase follow through

Example Sentences

Another constructive feature is the lack of downside follow-through after the sharp 10% weekly decline recorded during the final week of April.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“When the deadline passed without explanation or follow-through, that hope turned into something closer to despair,” said Shawn VanDiver, who runs the advocacy group Afghan Evac and closely monitors the situation at Camp As Sayliyah.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

His post Saturday was a follow-through on that threat.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

Stokes bowled 10 deliveries from the beginning of play on Wednesday, then pulled up in his follow-through holding his right groin.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Her laugh completed its follow-through, as her shoulders went up and down, and then she was on to the next thing.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides