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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.

Rahman said she was detained following the encounter and later required medical attention.

From Salon

Five off-piste skiers have died in two avalanches in the Austria's Alps following heavy snowfall in the region.

From BBC

Iranian schools are set to reopen Sunday, media reported, following a one-week closure as the country was gripped by protests.

From Barron's

The Northern Irishman had slipped off the top of the pile on Friday following a disastrous second round in which he landed in the water four times.

From Barron's

Yet U.S. equities staged a remarkable comeback following a massive dip in April, with the S&P 500 index up 16% since Inauguration Day.

From MarketWatch

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.