follower

American  

[fol-oh-er] / ˈfɒl oʊ ər /

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.

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follower British  

/ 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

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Related Words

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.

Etymology

Origin of follower

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

Example Sentences

Katie Robertson's passion for the bagpipes has gained her thousands of followers online.

From BBC

Several of Wilde's 18,000 followers on TikTok said they had been inspired by her videos documenting her exercise routine and daily life.

From BBC

It is a topic he regularly posts about on his X profile, with more than 230 million followers.

From BBC

The Democratic Party said about 40 of its followers had been detained.

From Barron's

The Druze are followers of an esoteric religion that split from Shiite Islam centuries ago.

From Barron's

Related Words

• adherent
• admirer
• advocate
• backer
• believer
• client
• devotee
• disciple
• fan
• member
• participant
• patron
• supporter
• worshiper