Definition

1. Verb:
   • To go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind: The primary meaning, indicating physical movement behind someone or something.
   • To come after in time or order: To happen or exist after something else.
   • To act according to (an instruction, rule, or example): To obey, adhere to, or conform with something.
   • To understand the logic or meaning of: To grasp the sense or reasoning of something spoken or written.
   • To take a keen interest in: To monitor the progress or development of something.
   • To practice or be a supporter of (a belief or way of life): To adhere to a particular doctrine, religion, or set of principles.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • Please follow the guide through the museum. (Move behind the guide.)
  • Tuesday always follows Monday. (Comes after in time.)
  • You must follow these simple rules. (Act according to the rules.)
  • Can you follow her argument? (Understand her reasoning.)
  • We must follow closely the economic development. (Monitor the development.)
  • These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion. (Practice the laws.)

Advanced Usage

• "as follows": used to introduce a list or explanation.
  • The instructions are as follows: first, turn on the machine.
• "follow suit": to do the same thing as someone else.
  • One company lowered its prices, and its competitors soon followed suit.
• "follow through": to continue an action or task to its completion.
  • She had a great idea but failed to follow through with the plan.
• "follow up": to pursue or investigate something further; to take subsequent action.
  • The journalist followed up on the initial report with more interviews.

Variants and Related Words

• Follower (n): a person who follows, supports, or admires another person, set of ideas, etc.
  • He is a follower of that political leader.
• Following (adj/n): coming after or as a result of; a group of supporters or admirers.
  • In the following chapter... (adj)
  • The singer has a large following. (n)
• Follow-on (adj/n): coming after or as a consequence of something.
  • This is a follow-on study from the original research.

Synonyms

• Pursue: to follow in order to overtake, capture, or harm.
• Succeed: to come after in an office, position, or sequence.
• Obey: to comply with a command, law, or rule.
• Comprehend: to understand the nature or meaning of.
• Monitor: to observe and check the progress or quality of over time.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Follow on (from): to happen after and as a result of something.
  • His resignation followed on from the scandal.
• Follow out: to carry out (instructions, a plan) to the end.
  • It is important to follow out the director's orders precisely.

Related Idioms

• Follow in someone's footsteps: to do the same thing as someone else, especially a family member, did previously.
  • She followed in her father's footsteps and became a doctor.
• Follow your nose: to go straight ahead; to be guided by instinct.
  • The bakery is just down this street—just follow your nose!
• Follow like a sheep: to follow someone or do something without thinking critically.
  • He doesn't have his own opinions; he just follows the crowd like a sheep.

Verb

1. keep to
   • Stick to your principles
   • stick to the diet
2. grasp the meaning
   • Can you follow her argument?
   • When he lectures, I cannot follow
3. follow in or as if in pursuit
   • The police car pursued the suspected attacker
   • Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
4. keep under surveillance
   • The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
5. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
   • He is a herpetologist
   • She is our resident philosopher
6. adhere to or practice
   • These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
7. accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
   • Let's follow our great helmsman!
   • She followed a guru for years
8. to be the product or result
   • Melons come from a vine
   • Understanding comes from experience
9. keep informed
   • He kept up on his country's foreign policies
10. perform an accompaniment to
    • The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
11. be the successor (of)
    • Carter followed Ford
    • Will Charles succeed to the throne?
12. follow with the eyes or the mind
    • Keep an eye on the baby, please!
    • The world is watching Sarajevo
    • She followed the men with the binoculars
13. follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
    • We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
    • trace the student's progress
14. imitate in behavior; take as a model
    • Teenagers follow their friends in everything
15. to bring something about at a later time than
    • She followed dinner with a brandy
    • He followed his lecture with a question and answer period
16. choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
    • She followed the feminist movement
    • The candidate espouses Republican ideals
17. be next
    • Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
18. behave in accordance or in agreement with
    • Follow a pattern
    • Follow my example
19. come after in time, as a result
    • A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
20. act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
    • He complied with my instructions
    • You must comply or else!
    • Follow these simple rules
    • abide by the rules
21. travel along a certain course
    • follow the road
    • follow the trail
22. come as a logical consequence; follow logically
    • It follows that your assertion is false
    • the theorem falls out nicely
23. be later in time
    • Tuesday always follows Monday
24. to travel behind, go after, come after
    • The ducklings followed their mother around the pond
    • Please follow the guide through the museum