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
Cochrane applied for the patent on the final day of 1885 and was granted it just after Christmas the following year.
—
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Cox won a seat in the state House of Representatives in 2012, and was appointed to serve as lieutenant governor the following year.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Confirmation of contesting countries usually takes place the October before the event, which is held the following May.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Members of Congress have the flags lowered on the day of their death and the following day.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
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Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Cox won a seat in the state House of Representatives in 2012, and was appointed to serve as lieutenant governor the following year.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Confirmation of contesting countries usually takes place the October before the event, which is held the following May.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Members of Congress have the flags lowered on the day of their death and the following day.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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