follow | ||
1. | [ verb ] to travel behind, go after, come after | |
Examples: | "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond" "Please follow the guide through the museum" |
|
Related terms: | precede travel lag shadow carry tailgate follower | |
2. | [ verb ] be later in time | |
Synonyms: | postdate | |
Examples: | "Tuesday always follows Monday." |
|
Related terms: | predate | |
3. | [ verb ] come as a logical consequence; follow logically | |
Synonyms: | fall_out | |
Examples: | "It follows that your assertion is false" "the theorem falls out nicely" |
|
Related terms: | result | |
4. | [ verb ] travel along a certain course | |
Synonyms: | travel_along | |
Examples: | : "follow the road" "follow the trail" |
|
Related terms: | travel ascend heel | |
5. | [ verb ] act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes | |
Synonyms: | comply abide_by | |
Examples: | "He complied with my instructions" "You must comply or else!" "Follow these simple rules" "abide by the rules" |
|
Related terms: | obey toe_the_line conform_to oblige adopt stick_to complaisance | |
6. | [ verb ] come after in time, as a result | |
Synonyms: | come_after | |
Examples: | "A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake" |
|
Related terms: | result postdate | |
7. | [ verb ] behave in accordance or in agreement with | |
Synonyms: | conform_to | |
Examples: | "Follow a pattern" "Follow my example" |
|
Related terms: | imitate imitate go_by | |
8. | [ verb ] be next | |
Examples: | "Mary plays best, with John and Sue following" |
|
Related terms: | be | |
9. | [ verb ] choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans | |
Synonyms: | adopt espouse | |
Examples: | "She followed the feminist movement" "The candidate espouses Republican ideals" |
|
Related terms: | choose adhere comply conform_to adoption | |
10. | [ verb ] to bring something about at a later time than | |
Examples: | "She followed dinner with a brandy" He followed his lecture with a question and answer period" |
|
11. | [ verb ] imitate in behavior; take as a model | |
Synonyms: | take_after | |
Examples: | "Teenagers follow their friends in everything" |
|
Related terms: | imitate imitate | |
12. | [ verb ] follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something | |
Synonyms: | trace | |
Examples: | "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" "trace the student's progress" |
|
Related terms: | analyze watch keep_up | |
13. | [ verb ] follow with the eyes or the mind | |
Synonyms: | watch keep_an_eye_on observe watch_over | |
Examples: | "Keep an eye on the baby, please!" "The world is watching Sarajevo" "She followed the men with the binoculars" |
|
Related terms: | check guard invigilate keep_tabs_on trace perceiver observation notice watch | |
14. | [ verb ] be the successor (of) | |
Synonyms: | succeed come_after | |
Examples: | "Carter followed Ford" "Will Charles succeed to the throne? |
|
Related terms: | precede supplant accede_to accede succession sequence successor | |
15. | [ verb ] (music,performing arts) perform an accompaniment to | |
Synonyms: | accompany play_along | |
Examples: | "The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano" |
|
Related terms: | play music | |
16. | [ verb ] keep informed | |
Synonyms: | keep_up keep_abreast | |
Examples: | "He kept up on his country's foreign policies" |
|
Related terms: | trace | |
17. | [ verb ] to be the product or result | |
Synonyms: | come | |
Examples: | "Melons come from a vine" "Understanding comes from experience" |
|
Related terms: | originate come | |
18. | [ verb ] accept and follow the leadership of command or guidance of | |
Examples: | "Let's follow our great helmsman!" "She followed a guru for years" |
|
Related terms: | act follower | |
19. | [ verb ] adhere to or practice | |
Examples: | "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion" |
|
Related terms: | practice | |
20. | [ verb ] keep under surveillance | |
Synonyms: | surveil survey | |
Examples: | "The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing" |
|
Related terms: | pursue | |
21. | [ verb ] follow in or as if in pursuit | |
Synonyms: | pursue | |
Examples: | "The police car pursued the suspected attacker" "Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life" |
|
Related terms: | travel chase haunt stalk pursuer follower | |
22. | [ verb ] grasp the meaning | |
Examples: | "Can you follow her argument?" "When he lectures, I cannot follow" |
|
Related terms: | understand | |
23. | [ verb ] (work) work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function | |
Synonyms: | be work | |
Examples: | "He is a herpetologist "She is our resident philosopher" |
|
Related terms: | wait carpenter clerk page cox specialize vet minister intern skipper cooper boondoggle work | |
24. | [ verb ] keep to | |
Synonyms: | stick_to stick_with | |
Examples: | : "Stick to your principles" "stick to the diet" |
|
Related terms: | persevere comply conform_to | |
Similar spelling: |
folio fowl foul fool foil foal Fowle folly folie Foley fellow fallow fool_away foully |