Synonyms of following

following 1 of 4

adjective

ˈfä-lə-wiŋ 

as in next

being the one that comes immediately after another

the following morning, I found the cat was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• next
• ensuing
• coming
• second
• succeeding
• subsequent
• on deck
• successive
• consecutive
• sequential
• posterior
• immediate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• previous
• prior
• foregoing
• precedent
• former
• preceding
• past
• last
• antecedent
• anterior

following

2 of 4

noun

1

as in entourage

a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person

a prince with a large following to do practically everything for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• entourage
• suite
• crew
• staff
• posse
• personnel
• train
• tail
• retinue
• cortege
• court
• assistant
• helper
• attendant
• retainer

2

as in audience

a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film)

that rock star attracts quite a following

Synonyms & Similar Words

• audience
• cult
• followership
• discipleship
• fandom

3

as in pursuit

the act of going after or in the tracks of another

took part in the following of the coyote

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pursuit
• tracking
• tracing
• search
• trailing
• pursuing
• chasing
• tailing
• tagging
• shadowing
• chase
• hounding
• dogging
• hot pursuit
• trail
• track
• path
• seeking
• tagging along

following

3 of 4

preposition

as in after

subsequent to in time or order

following the concert, there will be refreshments in the lobby

Synonyms & Similar Words

• after
• behind
• below
• past
• since
• après
• next to

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• of
• before
• prior to
• previous to
• to
• ahead of
• toward
• afore
• ere

following

4 of 4

verb

present participle of follow

1

as in succeeding

to come after in time

a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• succeeding
• replacing
• superseding
• ensuing
• supervening
• postdating
• supplanting
• displacing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• preceding
• antedating
• predating

2

as in pursuing

to go after or on the track of

let's follow the boys to their hiding place

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pursuing
• chasing
• tracking
• accompanying
• tracing
• escorting
• trailing
• tagging
• tailing
• running after
• hounding
• shadowing
• watching
• dogging
• coursing
• running
• seeking
• hunting
• bird-dogging
• observing
• searching (for)
• eyeing
• chaperoning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leading
• guiding
• heading
• piloting

3

as in obeying

to act according to the commands of

follow me, and you'll do OK

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obeying
• observing
• conforming (to)
• adhering (to)
• complying (with)
• keeping to
• regarding
• abiding by
• hearing
• goose-stepping (to)
• falling in with
• watching
• minding
• submitting (to)
• yielding (to)
• surrendering (to)
• taking
• deferring (to)
• attending
• agreeing (to)
• noticing
• acceding (to)
• heeding
• listening (to)
• noting
• assenting (to)
• marking
• acquiescing (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defying
• leading
• disobeying
• challenging
• refusing
• daring
• directing
• rebelling (against)
• ignoring
• renouncing
• repudiating
• disregarding
• dismissing
• passing over
• brushing (off)
• violating
• overlooking
• breaking
• winking (at)
• tuning out
• disobliging
• opposing
• mocking
• breaching
• fighting
• shrugging off
• infringing
• resisting
• transgressing
• deriding
• flouting
• contesting
• withstanding
• combating
• scorning
• scoffing (at)
• bucking
• disputing
• overpassing
• revolting (against)
• pooh-poohing
• mutinying (against)

4

as in traversing

to make one's way through, across, or over

followed the path into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traversing
• crossing
• navigating
• walking
• covering
• traveling
• tracking
• passing (over)
• cutting (across)
• proceeding (along)
• riding
• transiting
• hiking
• going
• coursing
• peregrinating
• perambulating
• treading
• running
• tramping
• traipsing
• crisscrossing

5

as in noting

to take notice of and be guided by

don't follow his advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• noting
• regarding
• obeying
• observing
• considering
• listening (to)
• respecting
• watching
• heeding
• hearing
• contemplating
• keeping
• weighing
• pondering
• seeing
• conforming (to)
• noticing
• mulling
• complying (with)
• attending (to)
• minding
• marking
• hearkening (to)
• harking (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• dismissing
• neglecting
• tuning out
• passing over
• discounting
• brushing (aside or off)
• glossing (over)
• scorning
• defying
• shrugging off
• flouting
• pooh-poohing
• glozing (over)
• snubbing
• slighting

6

as in watching

to keep one's eyes on

stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• watching
• observing
• eyeing
• viewing
• regarding
• looking
• seeing
• staring
• having one's eye on
• monitoring
• studying
• gazing
• beholding
• goggling
• glaring
• perceiving
• looking on
• waking
• peering
• gaping
• gawking
• guarding
• warding
• spying
• rubbernecking
• glimpsing
• peeping
• glancing
• peeking
• espying
• bird-dogging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• winking
• blinking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of following

Adjective

Key Background Hamilton was a former GOP congressional candidate in Virginia, and grew a following online for his criticisms of the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026

Maintain a greater following distance in freeway traffic, slow down before intersections, be cautious on left turns, watch for pedestrians and cyclists before accelerating, avoid aggressive driving and respect higher rural speeds outside city centers. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Noun

Joe Hegyes has gained a following for his Gen-Z version of the character, first portraying her in an online sketch in August 2020. — Moises Mendez Ii, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

According to National Weather Service climate data, the high temperature on the day Big Surf opened was 87 degrees, with weeks in the mid-90s following. — Katherine Chircus, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Preposition

Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

New York City's LaGuardia Airport reopened Monday following Sunday night's runway crash. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

Verb

Shakira Austin had 29 points and eight rebounds and Sonia Citron added 17 points and eight assists for Washington (19-14), which has lost two straight following a seven-game winning streak. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

But Ukraine has a layered array of defenses against the relatively slow-flying ones, and its counter-drone expertise has been in demand following the US-Iran war. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026