/ ˈfɒləʊ; NAmE ˈfɑːloʊ/ verb
GO AFTER
1.
to come or go after or behind sb/sth :
[ vn ]
He followed her into the house.
Follow me please. I'll show you the way.
I think we're being followed.
( figurative )
She followed her mother into the medical profession.
[ v ]
Wherever she led, they followed.
Sam walked in, with the rest of the boys following closely behind.
HAPPEN / DO AFTER
2.
to come after sth/sb else in time or order; to happen as a result of sth else :
[ vn ]
The first two classes are followed by a break of ten minutes.
I remember little of the days that followed the accident.
A period of unrest followed the president's resignation.
[ v ]
A detailed news report will follow shortly.
There followed a short silence.
The opening hours are as follows ...
A new proposal followed on from the discussions.
3.
[ vn ] follow sth (up) with sth to do sth after sth else :
Follow your treatment with plenty of rest.
They follow up their March show with four UK dates next month.
BE RESULT
4.
follow (from sth) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be the logical result of sth :
[ v ]
I don't see how that follows from what you've just said.
[ v that ]
If a = b and b = c it follows that a = c.
OF PART OF MEAL
5.
to come or be eaten after another part :
[ vn ]
The main course was followed by fresh fruit.
HELP NOTE : This pattern is usually used in the passive.
[ v ]
I'll have soup and fish to follow .
ROAD / PATH
6.
[ vn ] to go along a road, path, etc. :
Follow this road until you get to the school, then turn left.
7.
[ vn ] ( of a road, path, etc. ) to go in the same direction as sth or parallel to sth :
The lane follows the edge of a wood for about a mile.
ADVICE / INSTRUCTIONS
8.
[ vn ] to accept advice, instructions, etc. and do what you have been told or shown to do :
to follow a diet / recipe
He has trouble following simple instructions .
Why didn't you follow my advice ?
ACCEPT / COPY
9.
[ vn ] to accept sb/sth as a guide, a leader or an example; to copy sb/sth :
They followed the teachings of Buddha.
He always followed the latest fashions (= dressed in fashionable clothes) .
I don't want you to follow my example and rush into marriage.
The movie follows the book faithfully.
UNDERSTAND
10.
to understand an explanation or the meaning of sth :
[ v , vn ]
Sorry, I don't follow.
Sorry, I don't follow you.
[ vn ]
The plot is almost impossible to follow .
➡ note at understand
WATCH / LISTEN
11.
[ vn ] to watch or listen to sb/sth very carefully :
The children were following every word of the story intently.
Her eyes followed him everywhere (= she was looking at him all the time) .
BE INTERESTED IN
12.
[ vn ] to take an active interest in sth and be aware of what is happening :
Have you been following the basketball championships?
Millions of people followed the trial on TV.
OF BOOK / MOVIE
13.
[ vn ] to be concerned with the life or development of sb/sth :
The novel follows the fortunes of a village community in Scotland.
PATTERN / COURSE
14.
[ vn ] to develop or happen in a particular way :
The day followed the usual pattern.
•
IDIOMS
- follow in sb's footsteps
- follow your nose
- follow suit
—more at act noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- follow sb around / about
- follow on
- follow through
- follow through (with sth) | follow sth through
- follow sth up
—related noun follow-up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English folgian , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch volgen and German folgen .