follow-up

American  

[fol-oh-uhp] / ˈfɒl oʊˌʌp /

noun

1. the act of following up.

2. an action or thing that serves to increase the effectiveness of a previous one, as a second or subsequent letter, phone call, or visit.

3. Also called follow.  Journalism.

   1. a news story providing additional information on a story or article previously published.

   2. Also called supplementary story.  Also called sidebar.  a minor news story used to supplement a related story of major importance.

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adjective

1. designed or serving to follow up, especially to increase the effectiveness of a previous action.

   a follow-up interview; a follow-up offer.

2. of or relating to action that follows an initial treatment, course of study, etc..

   follow-up care for mental patients; a follow-up survey.

follow up British  

verb

1. to pursue or investigate (a person, evidence, etc) closely

2. to continue (action) after a beginning, esp to increase its effect

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noun

1. 1. something done to reinforce an initial action

   2. ( as modifier )

      a follow-up letter

2. med a routine examination of a patient at various intervals after medical or surgical treatment

follow up Idioms  

1. Carry to completion. For example, I'm following up their suggestions with concrete proposals . Also see follow through .

2. Increase the effectiveness or enhance the success of something by further action. For example, She followed up her interview with a phone call . [Late 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of follow-up

First recorded in 1920–25; noun, adj. use of verb phrase follow up

Example Sentences

Wall Street stocks moved sideways early Wednesday in a tentative follow-up to a record-setting session after good US economic data.

From Barron's

Over a follow-up period of 9.5 years, the risk of death decreased steadily as walking sessions became longer.

From Science Daily

But on a follow-up call, the veteran was told that Dubai would, in fact, be only a stopover for a few months of training.

From Barron's

Seven months after the transplant, she continues to attend monthly follow-up visits, but she has returned to school and is back home with her dogs.

From Science Daily

The follow-up continues this kookiness with a madhouse spoof of Hallmark holiday saccharine in which a woodpile becomes a homicidal monster.

From Salon