— followable , adj.
/fol"oh/ , v.t.
1. to come after in sequence, order of time, etc.: The speech follows the dinner.
2. to go or come after; move behind in the same direction: Drive ahead, and I'll follow you.
3. to accept as a guide or leader; accept the authority of or give allegiance to: Many Germans followed Hitler.
4. to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey: to follow orders; to follow advice.
5. to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar: They follow the latest fads.
6. to move forward along (a road, path, etc.): Follow this road for a mile.
7. to come after as a result or consequence; result from: Reprisals often follow victory.
8. to go after or along with (a person) as companion.
9. to go in pursuit of: to follow an enemy.
10. to try for or attain to: to follow an ideal.
11. to engage in or be concerned with as a pursuit: He followed the sea as his true calling.
12. to watch the movements, progress, or course of: to follow a bird in flight.
13. to watch the development of or keep up with: to follow the news.
14. to keep up with and understand (an argument, story, etc.): Do you follow me?
v.i.
15. to come next after something else in sequence, order of time, etc.
16. to happen or occur after something else; come next as an event: After the defeat great disorder followed.
17. to attend or serve.
18. to go or come after a person or thing in motion.
19. to result as an effect; occur as a consequence: It follows then that he must be innocent.
20. follow out , to carry to a conclusion; execute: They followed out their orders to the letter.
21. follow suit . See suit (def. 13).
22. follow through ,
a. to carry out fully, as a stroke of a club in golf, a racket in tennis, etc.
b. to continue an effort, plan, proposal, policy, etc., to its completion.
23. follow up ,
a. to pursue closely and tenaciously.
b. to increase the effectiveness of by further action or repetition.
c. to pursue to a solution or conclusion.
n.
24. the act of following.
25. Billiards , Pool. See follow shot (def. 2).
26. follow-up (def. 3).
[ bef. 900; ME folwen, OE folgian; c. OS folgon, OHG folgen, folgon (G folgen ) ]
Syn. 3. obey. 4. heed, observe. 8. accompany, attend. 9. pursue, chase; trail, track, trace. 19. arise, proceed. FOLLOW, ENSUE, RESULT, SUCCEED imply coming after something else, in a natural sequence. FOLLOW is the general word: We must wait to see what follows. A detailed account follows. ENSUE implies a logical sequence, what might be expected normally to come after a given act, cause, etc.: When the power lines were cut, a paralysis of transportation ensued.
RESULT emphasizes the connection between a cause or event and its effect, consequence, or outcome: The accident resulted in injuries to those involved. SUCCEED implies coming after in time, particularly coming into a title, office, etc.: Formerly the oldest son succeeded to his father's title.
Ant. 1. precede. 2, 3 . lead. 4. disregard. 9. flee.