| English Dictionary |
FOLLOW
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does follow mean?
• FOLLOW (verb)
The verb FOLLOW has 24 senses:
1. to travel behind, go after, come after
2. be later in time
3. come as a logical consequence; follow logically
4. travel along a certain course
5. act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
6. come after in time, as a result
7. behave in accordance or in agreement with
8. be next
9. choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
10. to bring something about at a later time than
11. imitate in behavior; take as a model
12. follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
13. follow with the eyes or the mind
14. be the successor (of)
15. perform an accompaniment to
16. keep informed
17. to be the product or result
18. accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
19. adhere to or practice
20. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
21. keep under surveillance
22. follow in or as if in pursuit
23. grasp the meaning
24. keep to
Familiarity information: FOLLOW used as a verb is very familiar.
Dictionary entry details
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it follows Past simple: followed
Past participle: followed
-ing form: following
Sense 1
Meaning:
To travel behind, go after, come after
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
Please follow the guide through the museum
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
dawdle; fall back; fall behind; lag (hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.)
tailgate (follow at a dangerously close distance)
shadow (follow, usually without the person's knowledge)
carry (pursue a line of scent or be a bearer)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence examples:
They follow the car down the avenue
Sam cannot follow Sue
Antonym:
precede (move ahead (of others) in time or space)
Derivation:
follower (someone who travels behind or pursues another)
following (the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Be later in time
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
follow; postdate
Context example:
Tuesday always follows Monday
Verb group:
come after; follow (come after in time, as a result)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Come as a logical consequence; follow logically
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
fall out; follow
Context example:
the theorem falls out nicely
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
ensue; result (issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
It ----s that CLAUSE
Sense 4
Meaning:
Travel along a certain course
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
follow; travel along
Context example:
follow the trail
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
heel (follow at the heels of a person)
ascend (go along towards (a river's) source)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 5
Meaning:
Act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
Context example:
abide by the rules
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
obey (be obedient to)
Verb group:
adopt; espouse; follow (choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans)
follow; stick to; stick with (keep to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
accommodate; oblige (provide a service or favor for someone)
toe the line (do what is expected)
conform to (observe)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 6
Meaning:
Come after in time, as a result
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
come after; follow
Context example:
A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
ensue; result (issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end)
Verb group:
follow; postdate (be later in time)
follow (be next)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 7
Meaning:
Behave in accordance or in agreement with
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
conform to; follow
Context example:
Follow my example
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
go by (be or act in accordance with)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 8
Meaning:
Be next
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
be (occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere)
Verb group:
come after; follow (come after in time, as a result)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 9
Meaning:
Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
Context example:
The candidate espouses Republican ideals
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)
Verb group:
abide by; comply; follow (act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
adhere; stick (be a devoted follower or supporter)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
following (a group of followers or enthusiasts)
Sense 10
Meaning:
To bring something about at a later time than
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
He followed his lecture with a question and answer period
Cause:
follow (be next)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 11
Meaning:
Imitate in behavior; take as a model
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
follow; take after
Context example:
Teenagers follow their friends in everything
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam cannot follow Sue
Sense 12
Meaning:
Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
follow; trace
Context example:
trace one's ancestry
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
analyse; analyze; canvass; examine; study (consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning)
Verb group:
follow; keep abreast; keep up (keep informed)
follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over (follow with the eyes or the mind)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 13
Meaning:
Follow with the eyes or the mind
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over
Context example:
She followed the men with the binoculars
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
check; check into; check out; check over; check up on; go over; look into; suss out (examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition)
Verb group:
follow; trace (follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
keep tabs on (keep a record on or watch attentively)
guard (to keep watch over)
invigilate; proctor (watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The children follow the ball
Sense 14
Meaning:
Be the successor (of)
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
come after; follow; succeed
Context example:
Will Charles succeed to the throne?
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
accede; enter (take on duties or office)
replace; supersede; supervene upon; supplant (take the place or move into the position of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 15
Meaning:
Perform an accompaniment to
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
accompany; follow; play along
Context example:
The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
play (play on an instrument)
Domain category:
music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 16
Meaning:
Keep informed
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
follow; keep abreast; keep up
Context example:
He kept up on his country's foreign policies
Verb group:
follow; trace (follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 17
Meaning:
To be the product or result
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
come; follow
Context example:
Understanding comes from experience
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
arise; develop; grow; originate; rise; spring up; uprise (come into existence; take on form or shape)
Verb group:
come (exist or occur in a certain point in a series)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Sense 18
Meaning:
Accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
She followed a guru for years
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
follower (a person who accepts the leadership of another)
following (a group of followers or enthusiasts)
Sense 19
Meaning:
Adhere to or practice
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
apply; practice; use (avail oneself to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 20
Meaning:
Work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
be; follow
Context example:
She is our resident philosopher
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
vet (work as a veterinarian)
cox (act as the coxswain, in a boat race)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 21
Meaning:
Keep under surveillance
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
Context example:
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
Verb group:
follow; pursue (follow in or as if in pursuit)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
They want to follow the prisoners
Sense 22
Meaning:
Follow in or as if in pursuit
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
follow; pursue
Context example:
Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)
Verb group:
follow; surveil; survey (keep under surveillance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
stalk (go through (an area) in search of prey)
chase; chase after; dog; give chase; go after; tag; tail; track; trail (go after with the intent to catch)
haunt; stalk (follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They follow the car down the avenue
Derivation:
follower (someone who travels behind or pursues another)
following (the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture)
Sense 23
Meaning:
Grasp the meaning
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context example:
When he lectures, I cannot follow
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue follow the movie
Sense 24
Meaning:
Keep to
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
follow; stick to; stick with
Context example:
stick to the diet
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
hang in; hang on; hold on; persevere; persist (be persistent, refuse to stop)
Verb group:
abide by; comply; follow (act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing
Context examples
Read and follow the label directions.
(Medicines and Children, Food and Drug Administration)
I ran back at once, told the watchman to get three or four men immediately and follow me into the grounds of Carfax, in case our friend might be dangerous.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
You can help prevent errors by: • Knowing your medicines. • Reading medicine labels and following the directions. • Take extra caution when giving medicines to children. • Asking questions.
(Medication Errors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
This syndrome usually follows a benign course.
(Meigs Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)
Buck was raging. He broke into a run, the team following his lead.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
“You’ve been on deck, Mr. Van Weyden,” Wolf Larsen said, the following morning at the breakfast-table, “How do things look?”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The other man followed at his heels.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
Atypical polypoid adenomyoma may recur following polypectomy.
(Adenomyoma, NCI Thesaurus)
The risk of acute rejection is highest in the first three months following transplantation.
(Acute Rejection, NCI Thesaurus)
A finding about one or more characteristics of adenosarcoma, following the rules of the TNM AJCC v7 classification system.
(Adenosarcoma TNM Finding v7, NCI Thesaurus)
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