Synonyms of ensue

ensue

verb

as in to follow

to come at a later time; to happen as a result

When the news broke, a long period of chaos ensued.

Related Words

• follow
• supersede
• replace
• supplant
• displace
• supervene
• succeed
• postdate

Dissimilar Words

• precede
• predate
• antedate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ensue different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ensue are follow, succeed, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

When can follow be used instead of ensue?

In some situations, the words follow and ensue are roughly equivalent. However, follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

When might succeed be a better fit than ensue?

The meanings of succeed and ensue largely overlap; however, succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank.

she succeeded her father as head of the business

When would supervene be a good substitute for ensue?

Although the words supervene and ensue have much in common, supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ensue

What ensued in the weeks ahead was a sell-off that nearly knocked the benchmark index into a bear market. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025

The increasing volume of planet-warming carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere is likely to make the air less dense, while geomagnetic storms have the opposite effect: The ensuing rapid changes in density as a result could cause serious troubles for satellite operations. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

Nonprofits are at the crux of a growing crisis: dwindling public trust, donor erosion and growing demand driven by government retrenchment under the DOGE and the ensuing cuts. —Leslye Moore, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

The ensuing standoff lasted for roughly four hours as hotel guests were allowed to return to their rooms around 12:36 p.m. —Hailey Roden, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2025