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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

See Examples For:

follow-through follow through

There was no need for Brook to attempt a single that Hasaranga fielded in his follow-through, the bowler hitting direct with a throw at the non-striker's end.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

It has demonstrated strong follow-through, posting weekly gains of 20% and 25% in the first weeks after earnings.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

A long ball was played forward and Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj leapt and punched the ball, but then on the follow-through his fists clattered into the head of Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Changing an in-bred monoculture built over decades is difficult, and the trustees should play a role by insisting on follow-through.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 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

Investors seemingly took issue with dovish signals that sowed doubt how quickly the BOJ will follow through with more rate increases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

It’s not always easy to follow through with your ABCs.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

But whether these governments follow through on these admittedly vague pledges, and whether that results in material change in the Middle East, is at least partly beside the point.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

December's elections will now be an important test of whether the military authorities follow through on their pledge to restore civilian rule and how the expanded powers of the presidency reshape Guinea-Bissau's fragile political system.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

“A hitter has only milliseconds to analyze a pitch, decide what to do, and then follow through with his hitting plan.”

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner