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.

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of follow-through

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

Example Sentences

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

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

Travis Head and Cameron Green threatened a counter-attack and Green should have been held in his follow-through by Atkinson.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

Traders are betting this is another instance of tough talk with little follow-through.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Of specific import will be the follow-through on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s suggestion that China will delay export controls on rare earth elements for up to a year.

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

It was a station-platform kiss—spontaneous enough to begin with, but rather inhibited in the follow-through, and with somewhat of a forehead-bumping aspect.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger