Follow — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈfä-(ˌ)lō/ fol·low

Meaning & Definition of Follow

Follow (verb)

  1. to go, proceed, or come after
  2. to engage in as a calling or way of life, pursue
  3. to walk or proceed along

Follow (noun)

  1. the act or process of following
  2. forward spin given to a ball by striking it above center

Follow (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come after in time

    "a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast"

    similar: postdate, succeed, supervene
    related: displace, replace, supersede, supplant, ensue
    opposite: antedate, precede, predate

  2. to go after or on the track of

    "let's follow the boys to their hiding place"

    similar: bird-dog, chase, course, dog, hound, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail, run after
    related: accompany, chaperone, escort, hunt, search (for), seek, eye, observe, watch
    opposite: guide, lead, pilot
    near: head

  3. to act according to the commands of

    "follow me, and you'll do OK"

    similar: adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), goose-step (to), mind, obey, observe, abide by, fall in with, keep to
    related: defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, take, watch
    opposite: defy, disobey, rebel (against)
    near: disoblige, challenge, dare, refuse, renounce, repudiate, direct, lead, brush (off), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, shrug off, breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn, mutiny (against), revolt (against), buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

  4. to make one's way through, across, or over

    "followed the path into the garden"

    similar: course, cover, cross, cut (across), go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel, traverse
    related: hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk, ride, run, crisscross

  5. to take notice of and be guided by

    "don't follow his advice"

    similar: heed, listen (to), mind, note, observe, regard, watch
    related: consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh, comply (with), conform (to), keep, obey, respect, attend (to), hark (to), hear, hearken (to), mark, notice, see
    opposite: disregard, ignore, tune out
    near: brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub

  6. to keep one's eyes on

    "stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight"

    similar: eye, observe, watch, have one's eye on
    related: behold, look, perceive, regard, see, view, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, look on, peer, rubberneck, stare, guard, wake, ward, bird-dog, monitor, study, spy, espy, glance, glimpse, peek, peep
    near: blink, wink

Related Entry: Follow through (with) (verb)

Follow through (with) is a different word from Follow. The synonyms below are for follow through (with), not for follow.

  1. to carry through (as a process) to completion

    "you said you would put all of the files in order, but you didn't follow through with it"

    similar: accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, go through
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    near: fail, skimp, slight, slur

Related Entry: Follow up (verb)

Follow up is a different word from Follow. The synonyms below are for follow up, not for follow.

  1. to add to or continue (something) with something similar

    "She followed up her first book with a sequel."

    similar: parlay, complement, supplement, accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, up, complete, finish, blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen
    opposite: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench, abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

Related Entry: Follow-up (noun)

Follow-up is a different word from Follow. The synonyms below are for follow-up, not for follow.

  1. something that continues or completes a process or activity

    "A week after the story broke, the newspaper printed a follow-up."

    "As a follow-up to last week's show, tonight we'll show the other side of the story."

    similar: sequel, addendum, afterword, appendix, codicil, excursus, supplement, coda, epilogue, postlude, conclusion, ending, finale, accompaniment, addition, complement, postscript, documentation, allonge, rider
    opposite: foreword, introduction, preface, prologue

Related Entry: Follow-ups (noun)

Follow-ups is a different word from Follow. The synonyms below are for follow-ups, not for follow.

  1. something that continues or completes a process or activity

    "A week after the story broke, the newspaper printed a follow-up."

    "As a follow-up to last week's show, tonight we'll show the other side of the story."

    similar: sequels, addenda, afterwords, appendixes, codicils, excursuses, supplements, codas, epilogues, postludes, conclusions, endings, finales, accompaniments, additions, complements, postscripts, documentations, allonges, riders
    opposite: forewords, introductions, prefaces, prologues

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Follow

The most common words with a similar meaning to Follow:

postdate, succeed, supervene, bird-dog, chase, course, dog, hound, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail, adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), goose-step (to), mind, obey, observe, cover, cross, cut (across), go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), transit, travel, traverse, heed, listen (to), note, regard, watch

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Follow

Words with the opposite meaning of Follow:

antedate, precede, predate, guide, lead, pilot, defy, disobey, rebel (against), disregard, ignore, tune out

Related Words for Follow

displace, replace, supersede, supplant, ensue, accompany, chaperone, escort, hunt, search (for), seek, defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), attend, hear, mark, notice, take, hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk, ride

Near Antonyms of Follow

head, disoblige, challenge, dare, refuse, renounce, repudiate, direct, brush (off), overlook, overpass, pass over, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, shrug off, breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn, mutiny (against), revolt (against), buck, combat

Word Forms of Follow

Inflections: followed, following, follows

Origin & Etymology of Follow

Middle English folwen, from Old English folgian; akin to Old High German folgēn to follow

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Follow

Words & Phrases Containing Follow

follow-on, follow one's nose, follow out, follow shot, follow suit, follow-through, follow through, follow-up

Frequently Asked Questions about Follow

What does "Follow" mean?

"Follow" means to go, proceed, or come after. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to go, proceed, or come after. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Follow"?

Other words for "Follow" include postdate, succeed, supervene, bird-dog, chase, course, dog and hound. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Follow" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Follow"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Follow". Common alternatives include postdate, succeed, supervene, bird-dog, chase, course, dog, hound, pursue and run.

What is the opposite of "Follow"?

Antonyms of "Follow" include antedate, precede, predate, guide, lead, pilot, defy and disobey. Near antonyms include head, disoblige, challenge and dare.

How do you use "Follow" in a sentence?

Examples of "Follow" in a sentence: "a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast"; "let's follow the boys to their hiding place"; "follow me, and you'll do OK".

Is "Follow" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Follow" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Follow" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Follow" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Follow"?

"Follow" is pronounced /ˈfä-(ˌ)lō/ and divided into syllables as fol·low.