I. ˈfä-(ˌ)lō verb
Etymology: Middle English folwen, from Old English folgian; akin to Old High German folgēn to follow
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to go, proceed, or come after
follow ed the guide
2.
a. : to engage in as a calling or way of life : pursue
wheat-growing is generally follow ed here
b. : to walk or proceed along
follow a path
3.
a. : to be or act in accordance with
follow directions
b. : to accept as authority : obey
follow ed his conscience
4.
a. : to pursue in an effort to overtake
b. : to seek to attain
follow knowledge
5. : to come into existence or take place as a result or consequence of
disaster follow ed the blunder
6.
a. : to come or take place after in time, sequence, or order
b. : to cause to be followed
follow ed dinner with a liqueur
7. : to copy after : imitate
8.
a. : to watch steadily
follow ed the flight of the ball
b. : to keep the mind on
follow a speech
c. : to attend closely to : keep abreast of
follow ed his career with interest
d. : to understand the sense or logic of (as a line of thought)
intransitive verb
1. : to go or come after a person or thing in place, time, or sequence
2. : to result or occur as a consequence, effect, or inference
•
- as follows
- follow one's nose
- follow suit
Synonyms:
follow , succeed , ensue , supervene mean to come after something or someone. follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence
speeches followed the dinner
succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank
she succeeded her father as head of the business
ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development
after the talk a general discussion ensued
supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable
unable to continue because of supervening circumstances
Synonym: see in addition chase .
II. noun
Date: 1661
1. : the act or process of following
2. : forward spin given to a ball by striking it above center — compare draw , English