following

[fol-oh-ing]

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

/ ˈfɒləʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. 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

noun

1. a group of supporters or enthusiasts

   he attracted a large following wherever he played

preposition

1. as a result of

   he was arrested following a tip-off

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of following¹

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

Example Sentences

One anecdote from the report claims that when Patel traveled to Utah following the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, he “refused” to leave his plane without wearing an FBI raid jacket.

Read more on Salon

"The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania's airspace," the European Commission chief wrote on X following talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

Read more on Barron's

Shares in Airbus earlier fell more than 10 percent on Monday in Paris following media reports that quality problems with fuselage panels had delayed delivery of some of its top-selling A320 aircraft.

Read more on Barron's

"The task is made easier for me because I'm following in their footsteps," he said.

Read more on Barron's

Stocks were falling Monday as investors looked set to begin December in a risk-off mood following a rally in late November.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• coming 
• consecutive 
• ensuing 
• subsequent 
• succeeding 
• successive