follow-up

[ fol-oh-uhp ]

/ ˈfɒl oʊˌʌp /

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See synonyms for follow-up on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of following up.

an action or thing that serves to increase the effectiveness of a previous one, as a second or subsequent letter, phone call, or visit.

Also called follow. Journalism.

a news story providing additional information on a story or article previously published.
Also called sidebar, supplementary story. a minor news story used to supplement a related story of major importance.Compare feature story (def. 1), human-interest story, shirttail.

adjective

designed or serving to follow up, especially to increase the effectiveness of a previous action: a follow-up interview; a follow-up offer.

of or relating to action that follows an initial treatment, course of study, etc.: follow-up care for mental patients; a follow-up survey.

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Origin of follow-up

First recorded in 1920–25; noun, adj. use of verb phrase follow up

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

How to use follow-up in a sentence

Choosing to strike while the iron was hot, Future announced his followup to Pluto, Future Hendrix, right away.
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was three years between the releases of Pieces of You and its followup, Spirit.
Jewel Is Back in ‘Ring of Fire’ and You Should Be Very Excited|Kevin Fallon|May 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He took meeting after meeting with giddy Hollywood executives and pitched them his followup—a sci-fi epic called A Topiary.
‘Upstream Color,’ Shane Carruth’s Sci-Fi Drama, Is the Year’s Craziest Film (So Far)|Marlow Stern|April 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But with no concrete followup, he concludes, “If they have a strategy they are keeping it to themselves.”
Freeh Report: The Fallout for Penn State|Diane Dimond|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Later that year, Tequila put out her followup record "Stripper Friends" and though it failed to chart, she was not deterred.
15 Singing Reality Stars|Jaimie Etkin|December 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Now, would you say that between you and the Vice President's followup car, there was more than one open car?
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
And approximately how far behind the Presidential vehicle was the followup car at that time?
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Had the Secret Service followup car completed its left-hand turn prior to the time the shots rang out?
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
So as a followup, we had our legal attache in Paris make inquiry to see whether he had enrolled in this college.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
And do you have a diagram showing the dimensions of the Secret Service followup car which was used during the onsite tests?
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for follow-up

follow up

verb (tr, adverb)

to pursue or investigate (a person, evidence, etc) closely

to continue (action) after a beginning, esp to increase its effect

noun follow-up

something done to reinforce an initial action
(as modifier)a follow-up letter

med a routine examination of a patient at various intervals after medical or surgical treatment

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with follow-up

follow up

Carry to completion. For example, I'm following up their suggestions with concrete proposals. Also see follow through.

Increase the effectiveness or enhance the success of something by further action. For example, She followed up her interview with a phone call. [Late 1700s]