follow Hear it!

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follow definition

fol·low (fäl′ō)

transitive verb

  1. to come or go after
  2. to go after in order to catch; chase; pursue
  3. to go along follow the right road
  4. to come or occur after in time, in a series, etc.
  5. to provide with something that comes after to follow praise with blame
  6. to take the place of in rank, position, etc. Monroe followed Madison as president
  7. to take up; engage in to follow a trade
  8. to come or happen as a result of disease often follows malnutrition
  9. to take as a model; act in accordance with; imitate
  10. to accept the authority of; obey to follow rules
  11. to support or advocate the ideas, opinions, etc. of
  12. to watch or listen to closely; observe to follow a conversation intently
  13. to be interested in or attentive to current developments in to follow local politics
  14. to understand the continuity or logic of do you follow me?

Etymology: ME folwen < OE folgian, akin to Ger folgen & (?) Welsh olafiad, follower

intransitive verb

  1. to come, go, or happen after or next after some thing or person in place, sequence, or time
  2. to occur as a natural or logical consequence; result

noun

  1. the act of following
  2. Billiards a shot that imparts a forward spin to the cue ball so that it continues rolling in the same direction after striking the object ball
    also follow shot
follow Idioms

as follows

as will next be told or explained

follow out

to carry out fully or completely

follow through

  1. to continue and complete a stroke or swing after hitting or releasing the ball or puck
  2. to continue and complete an action

follow up

  1. to follow closely and persistently
  2. to carry out fully
  3. to add to the effectiveness of by doing something more

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms follow idiom

follow Synonyms

follow

v.

  1. To come after

    succeed, come next, ensue, replace, supplant, postdate, go behind, bring up the rear, tailgate, tag along*; see also succeed 2.

  2. To regulate one's action

    conform, observe, imitate, copy, take after, match, follow in the footsteps of, walk in the shoes of, mirror, reflect, follow the example of, do as, mimic, hold fast, follow suit, do like*, emulate, obey, abide by, adhere to, heed, string along, comply, be in keeping, harmonize, be consistent with, attend to, accord; see also conform.

    Antonyms disregard, neglect*, depart from.

  3. To be a follower

    serve, support, attend; see accompany 1, obey 2.

  4. To go in pursuit of

    chase, trail, track, stalk; see pursue 1.

  5. To observe

    heed, regard, keep an eye on, keep up with; see watch 1.

  6. To understand

    comprehend, catch, grasp; see understand 1.

  7. To result

    result, ensue, proceed from, spring from, come from, happen, develop, arise; see also result.

follow is the general word meaning to come or occur after, but it does not necessarily imply a causal relationship with what goes before sunshine followed by rain; ensue implies that what follows comes as a logical consequence of what preceded clouds appeared and rain ensued; succeed implies that what follows takes the place of what preceded who succeeded Polk to the presidency?; result stresses a definite relationship of cause and effect between what follows and what preceded crime that results from poverty


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

follow Usage Examples

Object

  • link: External links The following links will take you to external Web sites over which we have no control.

Preposition: on

  • heel: A further sweeping statement soon followed on the heels of the first.

Subject

  • lunch: A champagne reception in the Long Room was followed by lunch in the Bayley Room hosted by the headmaster.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • through: Reuters reports German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday criticized other European Union nations for failing to follow through on pledges to accept refugees from Kosovo.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: Help determine the nature of any follow up projects.

Used with why or when

  • when: These are strictly followed when each inquiry is processed by the Registry.

Preposition: by

  • reception: The lecture was followed by a reception and dinner in Univ.
follow usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

follow quotes

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

-Bible (NewTestament)

But Jesussaid untohim,Followme; and letthe dead bury their dead.

-Bible (NewTestament)

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

-Bible (NewTestament)

follow quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"follow." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/follow>

APA Style

follow. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/follow

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