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.

---

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

---

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]

---

Etymology

Origin of follow-up

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

Example Sentences

A pulsing exploration of party culture and collective movement, it's a departure from the tender, introspective ballads on her Mercury Prize-winning debut, Collapsed In Sunbeams and its 2023 follow-up, My Soft Machine.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

He says there’s a lot of material he didn’t put on “Honora,” so hopefully, there’ll be a follow-up.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Additional remains of E. itjilik were uncovered during follow-up expeditions involving Dawson, Rybczynski, and Gilbert.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

With $9.1 million, fourth place went to Searchlight's "Ready or Not 2," a follow-up to the 2019 original comedy horror in which a bride must survive a deadly game of hide-and-seek with her new in-laws.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

She was making a follow-up appointment with Headmaster Clarkson when I approached the guidance counselor outside Mr. Clarkson’s office.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan