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as in to succeed
to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word follow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of follow are ensue, succeed, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

When is it sensible to use ensue instead of follow?

While the synonyms ensue and follow are close in meaning, ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

When is succeed a more appropriate choice than follow?

Although the words succeed and follow have much in common, 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

When can supervene be used instead of follow?

The words supervene and follow can be used in similar contexts, but supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of follow At some point following the Christian revelation in the New Testament the decision was taken in heaven to change the day of the Sabbath from the Jewish Saturday to the Christian Sunday. JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 The eight-episode first season follows a mercenary (Sy) who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hostages in Libya. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025 The acclaimed drama, based on Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel of the same name, follows a group of young American girls who shake up the courting scene in 1870s London. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025 Fringe followed, rippling across hems and sleeves with a sense of motion and fun. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for follow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for follow
Verb
  • Spotlight on development Suarez’s attacks on Dominguez — who was elected in 2022 to succeed her life partner, Mark Samuelian, after Samuelian’s death — have zeroed in on her support for controversial development projects.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Ultimately, the twins’ matchmaking efforts succeed, and their parents fall in love again, bringing the family back together.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Attendance is free with proceeds benefiting the Artisan Alliance at Wishing Spring scholarship, which offers continuing support to high school students who pursue the arts in college.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The upcoming spin-off introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • All of the other forces of nature obey something called parity symmetry.
    Paul Sutter, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The realization of such quantum machines would require experimenters having access to reliable physical components that can be assembled and controlled on the human scale, yet fully obey quantum mechanics.
    Zhixin Wang, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The team traversed steep and uneven ground, overcame vertical drops of up to 60 feet (20 meters) using rope techniques and transformed a small underground site into a temporary base.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Several states along the East Coast have been issued warnings by the National Weather Service (NWS), after a nor’easter traversed the eastern seaboard this weekend bringing with it the threat of strong wind and heavy rain.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But critics noted that the bulk of San Diego’s new units are market-rate, and the city is much further behind pace approving subsidized units for moderate-income and low-income residents.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The most recent, published in February, noted that the PFNA assessment was scheduled to be released in the second quarter of the financial year, which ended in June.
    Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The flood threat will climb even higher to above 8 feet Monday, which would be the highest level observed since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
    Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This discovery also suggests that astronomical events were observed by people outside of the elite class and state control.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sailor replaced Aviles in the 78th minute and Morales went in Rodriguez in the 89th minute.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The 31-year-old reliever's absence forced the Dodgers to replace him with Justin Wrobleski.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than chasing gimmicks, the company has doubled down on image quality, system reliability, and post-incident usability.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The child ran away from the boy, who is accused of chasing him with the knife.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Follow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follow. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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