follow-through

[fol-oh-throo, -throo]

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of follow-through¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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]

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.

Example Sentences

The key will be avoiding any significant downside follow-through from last week.

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

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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.

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But once again, there has not been any follow-through to that signal.

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Against the Pacers, he threw down a two-handed dunk with O’Neal’s signature follow-through.

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