following

[ fol-oh-ing ]

/ ˈfɒl oʊ ɪŋ /

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noun

a body of followers, attendants, adherents, etc.

the body of admirers, attendants, patrons, etc., of someone or something: That television show has a large following.

the following, that which comes immediately after, as pages, lines, etc.: See the following for a list of exceptions.

adjective

that follows or moves in the same direction: a following wind.

that comes after or next in order or time; ensuing: the following day.

that is now to follow; now to be mentioned, described, related, or the like: Check the following report for details.

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Origin of following

First recorded in 1250–1300, following is from the Middle English word folwing.See follow, -ing¹, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM following

non·fol·low·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use following in a sentence

But are their followings and their brands synonymous with Vogue?
Will Kim and Kanye Kill Vogue?|Keli Goff|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Serena Williams and Rihanna are undoubtedly famous women and have substantial followings.
Will Kim and Kanye Kill Vogue?|Keli Goff|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bryan Fuller, who created the two short-lived series with respective rabid cult followings, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The ‘Veronica Mars’ Kickstarter Smash: 5 Burning Questions|Kevin Fallon|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One is the presence of not one but three candidates with energetic, enthusiastic followings—Bachmann, Paul, and Cain.
Pawlenty’s Huge Iowa Gamble|Jill Lawrence|June 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST

And in the darkness, an entire class of trendmakers was born—users with colossal followings for every link they posted.
Facebook's Bully Strategy|Joshua Robinson|June 30, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In spite of this force the district was dominated by three or four leaders, who had large followings and acted in concert.
The Pacification of Burma|Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite
For such white men as dwelt there had for the most part native followings, and, I may add, native wives.
Marie|H. Rider Haggard
The Indians and Mexicans object to being the villains and they've got big sympathetic followings.
Reel Life Films|Samuel Kimball Merwin
The political leaders with the largest personal followings are some kind of reformers.
The Promise Of American Life|Herbert David Croly
In a republic nothing can be more disastrous than that great political leaders should have large family followings.
History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for following

following

/ (ˈfɒləʊɪŋ) /

adjective

(prenominal) about to be mentioned, specified, etcthe following items
(as noun)will the following please raise their hands?

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

noun

a group of supporters or enthusiastshe attracted a large following wherever he played

preposition

as a result ofhe was arrested following a tip-off

usage for following

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

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

following

Origin of following

OTHER WORDS FROM following

Words related to following

How to use following in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for following

usage for following