Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense follows, present participle following, past tense, past participle followed
1. verb
If you follow someone who is going somewhere, you move along behind them because you want to go to the same place.
We followed him up the steps into a large hall. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Please follow me, madam. [VERB noun]
They took him into a small room and I followed. [VERB]
[Also V + after]
Synonyms: accompany, attend, escort, come after More Synonyms of follow
2. verb
If you follow someone who is going somewhere, you move along behind them without their knowledge, in order to catch them or find out where they are going.
She realized that the Mercedes was following her. [VERB noun]
I think we're being followed. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: pursue, track, dog, hunt More Synonyms of follow
3. verb
If you follow someone to a place where they have recently gone and where they are now, you go tojoin them there.
He followed Janice to New York, where she was preparing an exhibition. [VERB noun + to]
4. verb
An event, activity, or period of time that follows a particular thing happens or comes after that thing, at a later time.
...the rioting and looting that followed the verdict. [VERB noun]
He was arrested in the confusion which followed. [VERB]
Other problems may follow. [VERB]
Eye witnesses spoke of a noise followed by a huge red light. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: come after, go after, come next More Synonyms of follow
5. verb
If you follow one thing with another, you do or say the second thing after you have done or said the first thing.
She broadcast on radio, and followed this with a series of credits in films and onTV. [VERB noun + with]
Follow up means the same as follow.
Most comics who score a hit at Edinburgh follow it up with a big tour. [VERB noun PARTICLE + with]
6. verb
If it follows that a particular thing is the case, that thing is a logical result of somethingelse being true or being the case.
Just because a bird does not breed one year, it does not follow that it will failthe next. [VERB that]
If the explanation is right, two things follow. [VERB]
It is easy to see the conclusions described in the text follow from this equation. [VERB + from]
Synonyms: result, issue, develop, spring More Synonyms of follow
7. verb
If you refer to the words that follow or followed, you are referring to the words that come next or came next in a piece of writing or speech.
What follows is an eye-witness account. [VERB]
There followed a list of places where Hans intended to visit. [thereV n]
General analysis is followed by five case studies. [beVERB-ed + by]
8. verb
If you follow a path, route, or set of signs, you go somewhere using the path, route, or signs to direct you.
If they followed the road, they would be certain to reach a village. [VERB noun]
All we had to do was follow the map. [VERB noun]
I followed the signs to Metrocity. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
9. verb
If something such as a path or river follows a particular route or line, it goes along that route or line.
Our route follows the Pacific coast through densely populated neighbourhoods. [VERB noun]
The Lot river follows a winding and tortuous course. [VERB noun]
10. verb
If you follow something with your eyes, or if your eyes follow it, you watch it as it moves or you look along its route or course.
Ann's eyes followed a police car as it drove slowly past. [VERB noun]
11. verb
Something that follows a particular course of development happens or develops in that way.
His release turned out to follow the pattern set by that of the other six hostages. [VERB noun]
12. verb
If you follow advice, an instruction, or a recipe, you act or do something in the way that it indicates.
Take care to follow the instructions carefully. [VERB noun]
No two chefs follow the same recipe. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: obey, observe, comply with, adhere to More Synonyms of follow
13. verb
If you follow what someone else has done, you do it too because you think it is a good thing or because you want to copy them.
If I do my bit, others will follow my example and join in to improve things. [VERB noun]
Where rich celebrities lead, the great British public will surely follow. [VERB]
14. verb
If you follow someone in what you do, you do the same thing or job as they did previously.
He followed his father and became a surgeon. [VERB noun]
Anni-Frid's son has followed her into the music business. [VERB noun + into]
Synonyms: succeed, replace, come after, take over from More Synonyms of follow
15. verb
If you are able to follow something such as an explanation or the story of a film, you understand it as it continues and develops.
Can you follow the plot so far? [VERB noun]
I'm afraid I don't follow. [VERB]
Synonyms: understand, get, see, catch More Synonyms of follow
16. verb
If you follow something, you take an interest in it and keep informed about what happens.
...the millions of people who follow football because they genuinely love it. [VERB noun]
She was following Laura's progress closely. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: keep up with, support, be interested in, cultivate More Synonyms of follow
17. verb
If you follow someone on a social media website, you choose to see messages and pictures that they post there.
Camille has a blog, and you can follow her on Twitter. [V n on]
You can also browse Instagram's galleries and follow favourite photographers. [VERB noun]
18. verb
A story, film, or television programme that follows someone or something is about their experiences over a particular period of time.
The film follows the fortunes of two women. [VERB noun]
19. verb
If you follow a score or written copy of a play, you read it while you listen to it being performed.
...an annotated version of Mozart's opera that allows the listener to follow thescore. [VERB noun]
20. verb
If you follow a particular religion or political belief, you have that religion or belief.
'Do you follow any particular religion?'—'Yes, we're all Hindus.' [VERB noun]
21. See also following
22.
See as follows
23.
See followed by
24.
See to follow
25. to follow in someone's footsteps
26. to follow your nose
27. to follow suit
Phrasal verbs:
See follow through
See follow up
More Synonyms of follow
follow in British English
(ˈfɒləʊ)
verb
1.
to go or come after in the same direction
he followed his friend home
2. (transitive)
to accompany; attend
she followed her sister everywhere
3.
to come after as a logical or natural consequence
4. (transitive)
to keep to the course or track of
she followed the towpath
5. (transitive)
to act in accordance with; obey
to follow instructions
6. (transitive)
to accept the ideas or beliefs of (a previous authority, etc)
he followed Donne in most of his teachings
7.
to understand (an explanation, argument, etc)
the lesson was difficult to follow
8.
to watch closely or continuously
she followed his progress carefully
9. (transitive)
to have a keen interest in
to follow athletics
10. (transitive)
to help in the cause of or accept the leadership of
the men who followed Napoleon
11. (transitive)
to choose to receive messages posted by (a blogger or microblogger)
I've been following her online
12. (transitive) rare
to earn a living at or in
to follow the Navy
13. follow suit
noun
14. billiards, snooker
a.
a forward spin imparted to a cue ball causing it to roll after the object ball
b.
a shot made in this way
Derived forms
followable (ˈfollowable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English folgian; related to Old Frisian folgia, Old Saxon folgōn, Old High German folgēn
follow in American English
(ˈfɑloʊ)
verb transitive
1.
to come or go after
2.
to go after in order to catch; chase; pursue
3.
to go along
follow the right road
4.
to come or occur after in time, in a series, etc.
5.
to provide with something that comes after
to follow praise with blame
6.
to take the place of in rank, position, etc.
Monroe followed Madison as president
7.
to take up; engage in
to follow a trade
8.
to come or happen as a result of
disease often follows malnutrition
9.
to take as a model; act in accordance with; imitate
10.
to accept the authority of; obey
to follow rules
11.
to support or advocate the ideas, opinions, etc. of
12.
to watch or listen to closely; observe
to follow a conversation intently
13.
to be interested in or attentive to current developments in
to follow local politics
14.
to understand the continuity or logic of
do you follow me?
verb intransitive
15.
to come, go, or happen after or next after some thing or person in place, sequence, or time
16.
to occur as a natural or logical consequence; result
noun
17.
the act of following
18. Billiards
a shot that imparts a forward spin to the cue ball so that it continues rolling inthe same direction after striking the object ball
: also follow shot
Idioms:
as follows
follow out
follow through
follow up
SYNONYMY NOTE: follow is the general word meaning to come or occur after, but it does not necessarily implya causal relationship with what goes before [sunshine followed by rain]; ensue implies that what follows comes as a logical consequence of what preceded [clouds appeared and rain ensued]; succeed implies that what follows takes the place of what preceded [who succeeded Polk to the presidency?]; result stresses a definite relationship of cause and effect between what follows and whatpreceded [superstition results from ignorance]
OPPOSITE: precede
Word origin
ME folwen < OE folgian, akin to Ger folgen & (?) Welsh olafiad, follower
More idioms containing
follow
follow something to the letter
follow in someone's footsteps
a hard act to follow
follow your nose
follow suit
Examples of 'follow' in a sentence
follow
Many spectacular cases followed that first disaster.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We arrange to have drinks the following night after our respective dinners.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We were back in preparing for this game the following morning so it has been difficult.
The Sun (2016)
Why are not other councils following suit?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Is your dad happy for you to follow in his footsteps?
The Sun (2017)
Record applications followed last year after three successive years of growth in the demand for places.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The first meal was awful - a meat course followed by a second meat course.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I did not follow that route.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I didn't want to follow any easy ways out.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I grabbed my coat and bag, ran out of the flat and down the stairs in case he was following.
The Sun (2016)
This exception was recognized in the following case.
Christianity Today (2000)
The shot which followed was drilled across the face of goal and wide.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Where in the world do you think the following things are happening?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She gave me the confidence to follow in her footsteps.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was further disappointment to follow the day after the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They appear to have followed a recognisable course.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Others will follow suit over the coming weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why anyone would want something that big following along behind them is beyond me.
The Sun (2014)
There is an equally peaceful return along an alternative route that follows a former railway line.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This change is exemplified in the following case of a bereaved father.
Carpenter, Anne & Johnson, Geoffrey Why am I Afraid to Grieve (1994)
Think outside the box and follow things through to the bitter end.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But she insisted she was not tempted to follow in their footsteps.
The Sun (2014)
Simply follow the directions after you have set up your team.
The Sun (2011)
The encounter in the branches followed in due course.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
Other companies are following suit amid warnings of the death of email.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Followed by stroll along the beach and a quick dip in the sea.
The Sun (2014)
The route is signposted and easy to follow.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It looked like he was going to follow up in the real thing until a back problem stopped him.
The Sun (2010)
The news of him resigning the following morning made it a rock-bottom weekend.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We let them go to the right and did not follow and half way up the beat we knew the race had gone.
The Sun (2012)
Two more shot up and followed them, their wings whirring.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The following morning they were sitting in the Games cafeteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They commune with Nature in her woods and fields and follow the ways of their ancestors.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
I would love to go back and follow up on some of those meetings.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
follow
Social networking terms
In other languages
follow
British English: follow /ˈfɒləʊ/ VERB
If you follow someone who is going somewhere, you move along behind them.
We followed him up the steps.
They took him into a small room and I followed.
American English: follow
Arabic: يَتْبَعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: seguir
Chinese: 跟随
Croatian: slijediti
Czech: následovat
Danish: følge
Dutch: volgen
European Spanish: seguir persona
Finnish: seurata
French: suivre
German: folgen
Greek: ακολουθώ
Italian: seguire
Japanese: ･･･について行く
Korean: ...에 잇따르다
Norwegian: følge (etter)
Polish: nastąpić
European Portuguese: seguir
Romanian: a urma
Russian: следовать
Latin American Spanish: seguir venir detrás
Swedish: följa
Thai: ตาม
Turkish: izlemek
Ukrainian: іти за
Vietnamese: đi theo
All related terms of 'follow'
follow-on
A follow-on is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously.
follow up
If you follow up something that has been said , suggested , or discovered , you try to find out more about it or take action about it.
to follow
After mentioning one course of a meal , you can mention the next course by saying what you will have to follow or what there will be to follow .
follow out
to implement (an idea or action) to a conclusion
follow suit
to do the same thing that someone else has just done
follow advice
If you give someone advice , you tell them what you think they should do in a particular situation.
follow through
If you follow through an action, plan , or idea or follow through with it, you continue doing or thinking about it until you have done everything possible .
follow allegations
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
follow the sea
to make one's living by serving on oceangoing ships
follow-up call
a telephone call made as a follow-up to a letter, fax , meeting , etc
follow-up care
care provided for a patient after medical or surgical treatment
to follow suit
If people follow suit , they do the same thing that someone else has just done .
follow-my-leader
a game in which the players must repeat the actions of the leader
follow one's nose
If you follow your nose , you do something in a particular way because you feel it should be done like that, rather than because you are following any plan or rules .
follow the crowd
to conform with the majority
follow the hounds
to hunt a fox , etc. on horseback with hounds
follow-the-leader
a game in which the players must repeat the actions of the leader
follow-up letter
a letter sent as a follow-up to an initial letter or to a telephone call , meeting , etc
follow-up question
A question is something that you say or write in order to ask a person about something.
follow-up study
a second study made as a follow-up to an initial study
follow-up visit
a visit made as a follow-up to an initial visit
follow your nose
to make decisions and behave in a particular way because you feel instinctively that this is what you should do, rather than because you are following any guidelines or rules
follow-up appointment
If you have an appointment with someone, you have arranged to see them at a particular time, usually in connection with their work or for a serious purpose.
follow-up interview
a second interview following an initial interview
follow someone's example
If you follow someone's example , you behave in the same way as they did in the past , or in a similar way, especially because you admire them.
to follow your nose
If you follow your nose to get to a place, you go straight ahead or follow the most obvious route .
a hard act to follow
someone who is so impressive or effective that it is difficult for anyone else who comes after them to be as good
follow-up telephone call
a telephone call made as a follow-up to a letter, fax , meeting, etc
follow in someone's footsteps
to do the same thing that someone else did
follow something to the letter
to carry out instructions , rules, or advice exactly in every detail
to follow in someone's footsteps
If you follow in someone's footsteps , you do the same things as they did earlier .
Chinese translation of 'follow'
follow
(ˈfɔləu)
vt
[person, car] (= go behind) 跟随(隨) (gēnsuí)
⇒ We followed him up the steps.我们跟随他上了台阶。 (Wǒmen gēnsuí tā shàngle táijiē.)
⇒ If the explanation is right, two things follow ... 如果这一解释正确的话，两件事情必然发生 ... (Rúguǒ zhè yī jiěshì zhèngquè dehuà, liǎng jiàn shìqing bìrán fāshēng ... )
to follow in sb's footsteps步某人后(後)尘(塵) (bù mǒurén hòuchén)
I don't quite follow you我不太理解你的意思 (wǒ bù tài lǐjiě nǐ de yìsi)
it follows that ... 一定是 ... (yīdìng shì ... )
as follows (when listing) 如下 (rúxià)
⇒ The winners are as follows: ... 获奖者如下: ... (Huòjiǎngzhě rúxià: ... )
(= in this way) 按如下方式 (àn rúxià fāngshì)
⇒ The sum will be calculated as follows ... 总额将按如下方式计算 ... (Zǒng'é jiāng àn rú xià fāngshì jìsuàn ... )
to follow suit (fig) 照样(樣)去做 (zhàoyàng qù zuò)
to follow one thing (up) with another thing紧(緊)接着(著)一件事做另一件事 (jǐnjiēzhe yī jiàn shì zuò lìng yī jiàn shì)
followed by接着(著)是 (jiēzhe shì)
All related terms of 'follow'
follow on
( continue ) 继(繼)续(續)下去 jìxù xiàqù
follow up
( letter, offer ) 对(對) ... 采(採)取进(進)一步行动(動) duì ... cǎiqǔ jìnyībù xíngdòng ⇒ I followed up an advertisement for a second-hand Volkswagen. → 看了广告后，我对二手的大众车作了进一步了解。 Kànle guǎnggào hòu, wǒ duì èrshǒu de dàzhòngchē zuòle jìnyībù liǎojiě.