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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 But that’s not what triggered the news alerts that followed. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 June 2025 Kelson helps Spike and the baby to escape another attack but Samson follows Spike to the island, where the Alpha is killed. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 June 2025 The Context American Pickers quickly became a History Channel hit following its debut in January 2010. Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025 When Austin and Phoenix cleared the way for semiconductor expansion, billions in private investment followed. Ethan Karp, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for follow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for follow
Verb
  • In one instance, the group succeeded in compromising upwards of 200,000 employee email accounts, according to the Justice Department.
    Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 June 2025
  • But in recent decades, new political elites and business groups have succeeded in pushing a pro-growth agenda.
    Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • However, Republicans are allowed to still retrieve unobligated funds from the law and have pursued other means of repeal.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
  • The university is not pursuing legal action against Lucas, just UM, according to Yahoo.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • While the breed may not always leap to obey commands, early training and socialization can channel that intelligence into loyal companionship.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • District courts District courts are required to obey the precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court and the appeals court circuit in which they’re located.
    Jacob Turcotte, Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • While there have been hundreds of successful expeditions across the Mid-Atlantic, the North Atlantic is less frequently traversed by solo ocean rowers and teams.
    Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025
  • Orlando Sentinel Florida’s House speaker stood up to DeSantis, and shifted the power dynamics Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida would normally be traversing the state this time of year, trumpeting his legislative accomplishments and the fellow Republican lawmakers who had fallen in line to achieve them.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The researchers noted that having this model answer 600,000 questions would create CO2 emissions equal to a London-New York return flight.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 June 2025
  • In addition, Morgan Stanley on Wednesday noted that the bank had removed Pop Mart from its China and Hong Kong focus list, replacing it with insurance company PICC P&C, according to CNBC.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Visitors can observe feedings during the resort’s Big Cat Encounters, a pinch-me moment in the Laurel Highlands.
    Hannah Seligson, Robb Report, 19 June 2025
  • The software is plugged into the brand’s website to observe, in real time, which specific pages are being crawled the most.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • Before the referee had even dropped the whistle from his mouth, Erling Haaland galloped onto the pitch with a coach clearly tasked with readying him to replace Omar Marmoush at the break.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • René Lacoste, for example, is credited as the inventor of the short-sleeved piqué polo, which came to replace the traditional tennis whites among more serious players.
    Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Much like the rest of the lineup, Lindor is also chasing pitches outside of the zone.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
  • Like many young hitters, Culpepper still chases too many pitches outside the strike zone.
    Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Follow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follow. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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