the following
noun
: the following one or ones
—used to introduce a list, a quotation, etc.
The finalists are the following: Mary, James, and George.
The following are the times of departing trains: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.
Examples of the following in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Biden administration dismissed the lawsuit, and prosecutors dropped a grand jury investigation the following year.
—
NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Santos pleaded guilty the following year just as he was set to stand trial.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
The couple married the following year and have since welcomed two children together.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
In the midst of the Colin Kaepernick kerfuffle in 2016 and into the following season, NFL ratings fell 8% and 10%, respectively.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
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NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Santos pleaded guilty the following year just as he was set to stand trial.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
The couple married the following year and have since welcomed two children together.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
In the midst of the Colin Kaepernick kerfuffle in 2016 and into the following season, NFL ratings fell 8% and 10%, respectively.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the following
Cite this Entry
“The following.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20following. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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