Main Entry:

¹fol·low

Pronunciation:

\ˈfä-(ˌ)lō\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English folwen, from Old English folgian; akin to Old High German folgēn to follow

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1: to go, proceed, or come after <followed the guide>2 a: to engage in as a calling or way of life : pursue <wheat-growing is generally followed 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 <followed 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 followed the blunder>6 a: to come or take place after in time, sequence, or order b: to cause to be followed <followed dinner with a liqueur>7: to copy after : imitate8 a: to watch steadily <followed the flight of the ball> b: to keep the mind on <follow a speech> c: to attend closely to : keep abreast of <followed his career with interest> d: to understand the sense or logic of (as a line of thought)intransitive verb1: to go or come after a person or thing in place, time, or sequence2: to result or occur as a consequence, effect, or inference

— as follows

: as comes next —used impersonally

— follow one's nose

1: to go in a straight or obvious course2: to proceed without plan or reflection : obey one's instincts

— follow suit

1: to play a card of the same suit as the card led2: to follow an example set

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>.

synonyms see in addition chase