follower

[fol-oh-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that follows.

2. a person who follows another in regard to their ideas or belief; disciple or adherent.

   Synonyms: supporter
   Antonyms: foe, enemy, adversary, opponent

3. a person who imitates, copies, or takes as a model or ideal.

   He was little more than a follower of current modes.

4. an attendant, servant, or retainer.

5. a person who follows or subscribes to another's posts on a social media website.

   He spent hours figuring out how to get more followers on Twitter.

6. British Informal.,  a boyfriend or suitor, especially of a maidservant.

7. Machinery.,  a part receiving motion from or following the movements of another part, especially a cam.

8. Engineering, Building Trades.,  a concrete form attached to the head of a timber pile to permit casting of a concrete cap or pier.

follower

/ ˈfɒləʊə /

noun

1. a person who accepts the teachings of another; disciple; adherent

   a follower of Marx

2. an attendant or henchman

3. an enthusiast or supporter, as of a sport or team

4. (esp formerly) a male admirer

5. rare,  a pursuer

6. a machine part that derives its motion by following the motion of another part

Word History and Origins

Origin of follower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English folwer, Old English folgere. See follow, -er ¹

Synonym Study

Follower, adherent, partisan refer to someone who demonstrates allegiance to a person, a doctrine, a cause, or the like. Follower often has an implication of personal relationship or of slavish acquiescence. Adherent, a more formal word, has implications of active championship of a person or a point of view. Partisan, ordinarily meaning a person prejudiced and unreasoning in adherence to a party, during World War II took on the meaning of a member of certain groups in occupied countries of Europe who carried on underground resistance to the Nazis.

Example Sentences

The problem is that Nakamura, who spends most of his time streaming to millions of followers and favors shorter formats in competition, keeps a light tournament schedule.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

In response to the rhetoric from Washington and the deployment of American warships, Maduro and his top lieutenants have assured their followers that Venezuela’s military is in a state of readiness.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

While the evangelical followers of Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan occasionally deployed such apocalyptic language, Bush and Reagan themselves were careful to speak more ecumenically.

Read more on Salon

These range from getting paid by for clicks and views, to payments from brands for product placement, and earning commissions when followers buy promoted items.

Read more on Barron's

There is also concern among investors in some biotech companies that there will be fast followers from China focused on similar targets.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• adherent 
• admirer 
• advocate 
• backer 
• believer 
• client 
• devotee 
• disciple 
• fan 
• member 
• participant 
• patron 
• supporter 
• worshiper www.thesaurus.com