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

Physics took care of the rest, and while knees and elbows were bloodied and egos were bruised, the ensuing spill may have worked in the league’s favor. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Gray cooperated with Nixon to stymie the FBI’s investigation of the 1972 Watergate break-in and the ensuing cover-up. —Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025

The ensuing years have been filled with significantly more losses than wins. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

The death toll in the ensuing Israel-Hamas war has claimed the lives of more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025