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
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After leaving Seattle, the first ships of the season are due April 21 in Ketchikan and in Juneau the following week.
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ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The plants die or go dormant in summer, but not before the seeds ensure henbit spreads the following year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.
—CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Truong says heavy-duty sponges are ideal for are surfaces and items that can tolerate heavy scrubbing without being damaged, like the following.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
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ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The plants die or go dormant in summer, but not before the seeds ensure henbit spreads the following year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.
—CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Truong says heavy-duty sponges are ideal for are surfaces and items that can tolerate heavy scrubbing without being damaged, like the following.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 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 18 Apr. 2026.
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