following

1 of 3

adjective

fol·​low·​ing ˈfä-lə-wiŋ How to pronounce following (audio)
1
: being next in order or time
the following day
2
: listed or shown next
trains will leave at the following times

following

2 of 3

noun

: a group of followers, adherents, or partisans

following

3 of 3

preposition

: subsequent to
following the lecture tea was served

Examples of following in a Sentence

Adjective She found a good job, and moved into a new house the following year. We met again the following day. Trains will leave at the following times: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. If you have questions or comments, please write to us at the following address: P.O. Box 234,…. Noun The band has a large and devoted following in Japan. The movement quickly gained a following among young people. Preposition Following the lecture, refreshments were served. We were tired for a few days following our trip.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Miller got hit in the back in the second half of Thursday night’s loss to Milwaukee and was still sore following pregame warmups in Philadelphia, causing the Hornets to hold him out and go with Seth Curry in his place, giving Curry his first career start with his hometown team. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 Alabama reached the top of the college football world in Saban's third season with a perfect 14-0 season capped off with a win in the BCS National Championship Game against Texas, and remained a national championship contender in every following season. USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 The most popular political party in Thailand won its following last year, and the ire of the conservative establishment, by campaigning to end military rule and to weaken the draconian law that prohibits criticism of the country’s monarchy. Muktita Suhartono, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024 Keith Lee has been known for his straightforward and blunt food reviews on TikTok — content that’s built him a following 14.5 million deep, and dozens of small business owners have credited him with saving their restaurants. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023 Condor was seen in a following shot posing with her hands in her pockets beside her actor beau in the same hallway. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023 Signifying the passage of time, the text updated with each following year, laid over shots of the couple dancing at their evening wedding reception at Royal Lodge, a formal portrait in their wedding best and smiling for a selfie. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 12 Oct. 2023 There will be five additional stores opening in 2026 and five stores each following year. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2023 This set has developed such a following online, it's earned more than 11,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 18 Aug. 2023
Noun
At age 50, with a robust fundraising base and national following, Porter still has a potentially bright political future. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 These Instagram hairstylists have large followings, sometimes boast celebrity clients, and almost always have a ring light in their setup. Annie Blay, Allure, 6 Mar. 2024 The social media sensation has actually built his following by unearthing fascinating truths about pieces of everyday life. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Schuller’s innovative use of TV broadcasting helped popularize his ministry and attract a large following. Catherine Baab-Muguira, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 Unlike traditional social media influencers — who attract large followings by making interesting content, which then attracts brand partnerships and other moneymaking opportunities — Amazon influencers need nothing more than a social media account and an Amazon product to review. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 The Shopify blog, which provided valuable resources and advice for entrepreneurs looking to start their own online stores, helped to build a loyal following. Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Veneta is adept at turning out buzzy it-bags that gain a cult following. Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024 Shelby vehicles, named for automotive designer and racing driver Carroll Shelby who died in 2012 at 89, have earned a cult following. Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'following.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of following was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near following

Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/following. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

following

1 of 3 adjective
fol·​low·​ing ˈfäl-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce following (audio)
1
: being next in order or time
the following day
2
: listed or shown next

following

2 of 3 noun
: a group of followers

following

3 of 3 preposition
: immediately after

More from Merriam-Webster on following

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