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
On the night of the première, with my forty-five-minute interview scheduled for the following morning, the negotiation remained unresolved.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The adult wasps die during the year and larvae generally pupate and emerge the following year.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Status updates are published in the following week’s list.
—Ian Wheeler, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Park officials were notified of his disappearance the following day and subsequently initiated search and rescue operations.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the following
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.
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The adult wasps die during the year and larvae generally pupate and emerge the following year.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Status updates are published in the following week’s list.
—Ian Wheeler, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Park officials were notified of his disappearance the following day and subsequently initiated search and rescue operations.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
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 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
