1
2
as in to pursue
to go after or on the track of
let's follow the boys to their hiding place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to obey
to act according to the commands of
follow me, and you'll do OK
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to traverse
to make one's way through, across, or over
followed the path into the garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to note
to take notice of and be guided by
don't follow his advice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to observe
to keep one's eyes on
stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 follow
The Raiders kept the momentum firing in the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to two after Clements reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored after an errant throw following the groundout.
—
Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Those humans had been killing elk for a very long time and may have even followed the elk and bison onto the continent.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Nick Reiner was born in 1993, followed by their daughter Romy Reiner in 1997.
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 June 2026
At 37 years, 272 days, Staal became the second player age 37 or older to score at least five goals in a Stanley Cup Final, following Brad Marchand’s six in 2025.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for follow
Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Those humans had been killing elk for a very long time and may have even followed the elk and bison onto the continent.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Nick Reiner was born in 1993, followed by their daughter Romy Reiner in 1997.
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 June 2026
At 37 years, 272 days, Staal became the second player age 37 or older to score at least five goals in a Stanley Cup Final, following Brad Marchand’s six in 2025.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for follow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for follow
Verb
-
Khamenei was succeeded by his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, a little over a week later by the 88-member Assembly of Experts.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Morales will be succeeded by Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez, who will be sworn in on Tuesday morning.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Rather than pursuing immortality, companies are targeting specific biological mechanisms associated with aging.—
Dasha Shunina,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
If your funds are held at a regulated financial institution, a court order may still allow creditors to pursue them.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
At least two cases have gone to trial, including one for a woman accused of assaulting an officer that ended in a mistrial, and another in which a defendant is appealing his sentence of one year of probation for failing to obey a lawful order and creating a disturbance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
Citizens are expected to obey the law.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Volunteers and paid canvassers have traversed neighborhoods on foot to talk to local businesses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
Asbury himself would traverse some two hundred and fifty thousand miles and preach more than sixteen thousand sermons in the course of forty-five years.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch noted their dissent and would have granted the state’s request to overturn the lower courts.—
Abigail Brooks,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
Any other hotel features worth noting?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Scenes of playtime on the living-room floor, or of dinner amid cheerful family chat, all feel deeply lived in and plainly observed, even as the objects of daily life, from a doorknob to a sippy cup, take on outsized dramatic power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
Another case involved six federal law enforcement agents who reported repeatedly observing bright orange and red orbs in October 2023.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The requirement that employers bargain with workers before deploying the automation that could replace them — the one protection that would have put machinists like me at the table before the decision was made.—
Heather Merrick,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
-
When used wisely to automate tasks or improve insights, AI can strengthen, not replace, direct service.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Refs opted to disregard the blatant flagrant foul and the usually stoic Brunson erupted, chasing after the officials before turning on his heel in a fury and returning to the bench.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
The picture is more nuanced for athletes chasing peak output.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Follow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follow. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
