follow suit

Idioms

Imitate or do as someone else has done, as in Bill decided to leave for the rest of the day, and Mary followed suit. This term comes from card games in which one must play a card from the same suit as the one led. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Once private-equity owners get the AP1000 ball rolling and show proof of concept, the rest of the utility industry should eventually follow suit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

The Senate easily approved the housing package on Monday evening, and the House looks set to follow suit on Wednesday or Thursday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

On Wednesday, the stage was set for Cristiano Ronaldo to make his own mark on the tournament - but the Portugal captain was unable to follow suit.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

With US inflation at a three-year high, expectations are growing that the Federal Reserve will follow suit, albeit not at new boss Kevin Warsh's first rate-setting gathering this week.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Quakers in other states and in London follow suit.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023