follow

(noun, verb)

noun

1. (sometimes attributive) In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.

- a follow shot

verb

1. to travel behind, go after, come after

- The ducklings followed their mother around the pond

- Please follow the guide through the museum

Definition categories: motion, go, locomote, move, travel

2. be later in time

- Tuesday always follows Monday

Similar word(s): postdate

Definition categories: stative

3. come as a logical consequence; follow logically

- It follows that your assertion is false

Definition categories: stative, ensue, result

4. travel along a certain course

- follow the road

- follow the trail

Definition categories: motion, go, locomote, move, travel

5. act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes

- Follow these simple rules

Similar word(s): comply

Definition categories: social, obey

6. come after in time, as a result

- A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake

Definition categories: stative, ensue, result

7. behave in accordance or in agreement with

- Follow a pattern

- Follow my example

Definition categories: change, copy, imitate, simulate

8. be next

- Mary plays best, with John and Sue following

Definition categories: stative, be

9. choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

- She followed the feminist movement

Similar word(s): adopt, espouse

Definition categories: possession, choose, select, take

10. 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

Definition categories: stative

11. imitate in behavior; take as a model

- Teenagers follow their friends in everything

Definition categories: creation, copy, imitate, simulate

12. follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something

- We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba

Similar word(s): trace

Definition categories: cognition, analyse, analyze, canvass, examine, study

13. follow with the eyes or the mind

- She followed the men with the binoculars

Similar word(s): observe, watch

Definition categories: social, check

14. be the successor (of)

- Carter followed Ford

Similar word(s): succeed

Definition categories: social

15. perform an accompaniment to

- The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano

Similar word(s): accompany

Definition categories: creation, play

16. keep informed

Definition categories: change

17. to be the product or result

Similar word(s): come

Definition categories: stative, arise, develop, grow, originate, rise, uprise

18. accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of

- Let's follow our great helmsman!

- She followed a guru for years

Definition categories: social, act, behave, do

19. adhere to or practice

- These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion

Definition categories: social, apply, practice, use

20. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

Similar word(s): be

Definition categories: social

21. keep under surveillance

- The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing

Similar word(s): surveil, survey

Definition categories: perception

22. follow in or as if in pursuit

- Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life

Similar word(s): pursue

Definition categories: motion, go, locomote, move, travel

23. grasp the meaning

- Can you follow her argument?

- When he lectures, I cannot follow

Definition categories: cognition, understand

24. keep to

Definition categories: change, persevere, persist

Sentences with follow as a verb:

- Follow that car!

- B follows A in the alphabet.

- We both ordered the soup, with roast beef to follow.

- Follow these instructions to the letter.

- Do you follow me?

- I followed the incumbent throughout the election.

- It follows that if two numbers are not equal then one is larger than the other.