Jump To:

• follow-through
  follow-through

  noun

  the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.
• follow through
  follow through

  verb

  sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc

follow-through

American  

[fol-oh-throo, -throo] / ˈfɒl oʊˌθru, -ˈθru /

noun

1. the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.

2. the portion of such a motion after the ball has been hit.

3. the act of continuing a plan, project, scheme, or the like to its completion.

---

follow through British  

verb

1. sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc

2. (tr) to pursue (an aim) to a conclusion

---

noun

1. sport

   1. the act of following through

   2. the part of the stroke after the ball has been hit

2. the completion of a procedure, esp after a first action

follow through Idioms  

1. In sports such as tennis or golf, carry a stroke to completion after striking the ball. For example, You don't follow through on your backhand, so it goes into the net . [Late 1800s]

2. Carry an object, project, or intention to completion; pursue fully. For example, She followed through on her promise to reorganize the department . Also see follow up , def. 1.

---

Etymology

Origin of follow-through

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase follow through

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

follow-through follow through

There was no need for Brook to attempt a single that Hasaranga fielded in his follow-through, the bowler hitting direct with a throw at the non-striker's end.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

His arrest on Tuesday marks a rare follow-through in the fight against high-level corruption, with convictions of top officials uncommon in the West African nation.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

Until Nvidia can deliver clear follow-through, the risk remains that this move may have been a false start rather than the beginning of a sustained advance.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

Changing an in-bred monoculture built over decades is difficult, and the trustees should play a role by insisting on follow-through.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

Made sure he had a good snap and follow-through.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

But rising diesel prices, renewed tensions in the Middle East and Friday’s hotter-than-expected consumer inflation report have convinced traders and economists that Warsh will follow through on his tough talk and raise rates.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

But whether these governments follow through on these admittedly vague pledges, and whether that results in material change in the Middle East, is at least partly beside the point.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

"We are finally seeing a follow through to intervention by some meaningful expectation on the policy front."

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

The fight has also exposed the realities Mamdani faces now that he is in office to follow through on campaign promises when faced with fiscal constraints.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

He ran over to me shouting, “Simone, what are you doing? You can’t do that! You have to follow through with the skill or you’ll get injured.”

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles