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Synonyms

following

American  
[fol-oh-ing] / ˈfɒl oʊ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a body of followers, attendants, adherents, etc.

  2. the body of admirers, attendants, patrons, etc., of someone or something.

    That television show has a large following.

  3. the following, that which comes immediately after, as pages, lines, etc..

    See the following for a list of exceptions.

adjective

  1. that follows or moves in the same direction.

    a following wind.

  2. that comes after or next in order or time; ensuing.

    the following day.

  3. that is now to follow; now to be mentioned, described, related, or the like.

    Check the following report for details.
following British  
/ ˈfɒləʊɪŋ /

adjective

    1. (prenominal) about to be mentioned, specified, etc

      the following items

    2. ( as noun )

      will the following please raise their hands?

  2. (of winds, currents, etc) moving in the same direction as the course of a vessel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a group of supporters or enthusiasts

    he attracted a large following wherever he played
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

preposition

  1. as a result of

    he was arrested following a tip-off
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

The use of following to mean as a result of is very common in journalism, but should be avoided in other kinds of writing

Other Word Forms

  • nonfollowing adjective

Etymology

Origin of following

First recorded in 1250–1300, following is from the Middle English word folwing. See follow, -ing 1, -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Attia also stepped down as chief science officer at protein bar company David following the release of the files.

From Salon

But fans would be forgiven for thinking twice about attending the game following this week's shocking scenes.

From BBC

Schulman said that following last year’s government shutdown, customers started to feel better about shopping again.

From MarketWatch

He is unlikely to race the following weekend in Otepaa, Estonia, or in the season finale in Oslo on March 19-22.

From Barron's

Colonel Michael Randrianirina -- Madagascar's interim leader since the former president fled in October following demonstrations -- arrived in France less than a week after holding talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

From Barron's

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.