FOLLOWING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does following mean? 

• FOLLOWING (noun)
  The noun FOLLOWING has 2 senses:

1. a group of followers or enthusiasts

2. the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

  Familiarity information: FOLLOWING used as a noun is rare.

• FOLLOWING (adjective)
  The adjective FOLLOWING has 4 senses:

1. about to be mentioned or specified

2. immediately following in time or order

3. going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction

4. in the desired direction

  Familiarity information: FOLLOWING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOLLOWING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A group of followers or enthusiasts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

followers; following

Hypernyms ("following" is a kind of...):

hoi polloi; mass; masses; multitude; people; the great unwashed (the common people generally)

Meronyms (members of "following"):

buff; devotee; fan; lover (an ardent follower and admirer)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "following"):

claque (a group of followers hired to applaud at a performance)

faithful (any loyal and steadfast following)

fandom (the fans of a sport or famous person)

Derivation:

follow (choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans)

follow (accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

chase; following; pursual; pursuit

Context example:

the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit

Hypernyms ("following" is a kind of...):

motion; move; movement (the act of changing location from one place to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "following"):

tracking; trailing (the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind)

shadowing; tailing (the act of following someone secretly)

stalk; stalking (the act of following prey stealthily)

Derivation:

follow (to travel behind, go after, come after)

follow (follow in or as if in pursuit)

• FOLLOWING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

About to be mentioned or specified

Synonyms:

following; undermentioned

Context example:

the following items

Similar:

succeeding (coming after or following)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Immediately following in time or order

Synonyms:

following; next

Context example:

the next item on the list

Similar:

succeeding (coming after or following)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction

Context example:

tried to outrun the following footsteps

Similar:

pursuing (following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit)

Antonym:

leading (going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way)

Sense 4

Meaning:

In the desired direction

Context example:

a following wind

Similar:

favorable; favourable ((of winds or weather) tending to promote or facilitate)

 Context examples 

Following his example, we threw ourselves upon it with all our weight.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He tore off a strip of the blotting-paper and turned towards us the following hieroglyphic: hieroglyphic

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And when she pointed out the opportuneness of the time, that the entrance examinations to high school began on the following Monday, he promptly volunteered that he would take them.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Our cabs were dismissed, and, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am also excited to see that your ruler Neptune will turn direct the following day, November 27.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This, the student was to swallow upon a fasting stomach, and for three days following, eat nothing but bread and water.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

His very next trip he killed a young bear, nearly full-grown, and on the trip following, a large male bear and his mate.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Mr. Micawber read on, almost smacking his lips: To wit, in manner following, that is to say.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A third time the attempt was made, but this time, following the advice, Hal broke out the runners which had been frozen to the snow.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Only by the steady regard of his eyes did he express his love, and by the unceasing following with his eyes of his god's every movement.

(White Fang, by Jack London)