ensue

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.

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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

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.
Recent Examples of ensue The pair’s annual gala turned into a major plot point after ex cast member Cristy Rice crashed the charity event with two people, and a feud between her and Lea ensued for many, many episodes. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 July 2025 Price wars have ensued: OpenAI slashed o3 model prices by 80% after Gemini’s Pro model leapfrogged it in user rankings, illustrating how differentiation in core models is getting harder to preserve. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 July 2025 During the ensuing clash, the suspect pulled a gun and opened fire, striking the victim in the stomach. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 When the tenant arrived at the property, an argument ensued. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ensue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensue
Verb
  • Two more taxi services followed: Harlem and Deluxe.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 29 July 2025
  • This trend also follows national data, where from 2000-2016, retention rates have been dropping.
    Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • The superseding indictment against Michael Gilbert includes counts of mail fraud and money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
    Cameron Macdonald, Mercury News, 25 July 2025
  • The teenage girl also was not mentioned in a superseding federal grand jury indictment, which only referenced a 9-year-old victim.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • What will replace the rare French glass HBO (Max) shattered with a random Friday-afternoon rock?
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
  • By the eighteenth century, this theory was replaced by a view of hair as an ornament that signaled both aesthetics and social position…In the nineteenth century, the period that McBride focusses on, hair was framed as an intrinsic biological feature that revealed fundamental truths.
    Book Marks August 1, Literary Hub, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • TikTok and streaming services have firmly supplanted radio as the prime avenue for music discovery, and algorithms help make older artists and even entire genres new again, slotting retro sounds alongside current hitmakers.
    Matt Sebastian, Denver Post, 29 July 2025
  • Although Doval regained the closer role in late May, supplanting struggling right-hander Ryan Walker, All-Star Randy Rodríguez, another righty, would appear primed to step into the ninth inning.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • Fighting around the countries’ border, emerging from long-simmering tensions, killed at least 30 people and displaced hundreds of thousands since last Thursday.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
  • At least 80,000 people in Cambodia have been displaced by the fighting, according to the defense ministry.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ensue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensue. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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