the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.
the portion of such a motion after the ball has been hit.
the act of continuing a plan, project, scheme, or the like to its completion.
sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc
(tr) to pursue (an aim) to a conclusion
sport
the act of following through
the part of the stroke after the ball has been hit
the completion of a procedure, esp after a first action
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.
First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase follow through
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Until Nvidia can deliver clear follow-through, the risk remains that this move may have been a false start rather than the beginning of a sustained advance.
From Barron's • May 4, 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
Root eventually offered a leading edge to a diving Neser in the bowler's follow-through, part of England's final collapse of 4-9.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026
Though on in years, Mr. Keating had a stylish windup and follow-through.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
