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Meaning & use

follow

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈfɒl.əʊ/
US/ˈfɑː.loʊ/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To go or move behind someone or something, in the same direction.

    Grammar: Takes an object, or stands alone: follow me, or just follow.

    Patterns

    • follow someone
    • follow someone to somewhere

    The dog followed her all the way home.

    Follow me, and I will show you the room.

    A police car followed the van for miles.

  2. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To come after something in time or order.

    Grammar: Takes an object or stands alone: dessert followed dinner.

    Patterns

    • follow something
    • follow from something

    Dinner is followed by a short speech.

    A long silence followed his announcement.

    In spring, flowers follow the rain.

  3. verbtransitive

    To act in line with instructions, advice, rules, or an example.

    Grammar: Takes an object: follow the rules.

    Patterns

    • follow the rules
    • follow someone's advice

    Please follow the instructions on the box.

    She followed her mother's advice and saved money.

    Drivers must follow the traffic signs.

  4. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To understand what someone is saying or how something works.

    Grammar: Often used in questions and negatives: I don't follow you.

    Patterns

    • follow someone
    • follow what someone says

    I couldn't follow the plot of the film.

    Sorry, I don't follow. Can you explain again?

    Are you following me so far?

  5. verbtransitive

    To pay close attention to something over time, or to subscribe to a person's online posts.

    Grammar: Takes an object: follow the news, follow an account.

    Patterns

    • follow a team
    • follow someone online

    He follows the local football team closely.

    I follow several chefs on social media.

    She has followed the story since the first report.

Word forms

third person singularfollows
past tensefollowed
past participlefollowed
-ing formfollowing

Common combinations

follow instructions
Follow the instructions carefully.
follow someone's lead
The smaller banks followed the leader.
closely follow
The shop closely follows the latest trends.
follow the rules
Everyone must follow the rules.
follow in someone's footsteps
She followed in her father's footsteps and became a doctor.
follow suit
One airline cut prices and the rest followed suit.

Synonyms and how they differ

pursue
Pursue means to chase with the aim of catching, whereas follow can be neutral.
obey
Obey is stronger and implies an order from someone with authority, while follow can apply to advice or rules.
trail
Trail means to follow slowly, often at a distance or behind.
succeed
Succeed, in the sense of coming after, is formal and used for positions, while follow is general.

Opposites

leadprecede

Word family

follower noun
a person who follows, supports, or subscribes
following adjective
coming next, as in the following day
following noun
a group of supporters
followable adjective
able to be followed or understood
follow-up noun
something done to continue earlier action

Commonly confused: follow or fellow? follow or following?

follow vs fellow

Fellow is a noun or adjective for a companion or a man, and is not a verb meaning to come after.

follow vs following

When used as a preposition, following means after, as in following the meeting.

Practice

Which sentence uses follow in the sense of understanding?

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