following 1 of 4

Definition of followingnext
as in next
being the one that comes immediately after another the following morning, I found the cat was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

3

following

3 of 4

preposition

as in after
subsequent to in time or order following the concert, there will be refreshments in the lobby

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
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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 following
Adjective
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 Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
Michael Gallagher, who has a following on YouTube, shot it in a documentary-like style, with eerie re-creations of Applewhite’s space-cadet videos, and the drama is rigorous and voyeuristic in a fascinating way. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2026 The Ferrosi pants have a loyal following for their featherlight feel, four-way stretch, and incredible durability. Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 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
Ancheta said there were no immediate reports of casualties, but some people fainted following the strong ​tremor. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 June 2026 In a chat with Mica, George apologized for not being sensitive to her feelings following the recoupling. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
  • The Fever's next game comes on the road against the Washington Mystics, with Indiana looking to avoid slipping to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
  • And because the state is naturally scenic with varied terrain from one area to the next, driving between these sights ends up being a journey in and of itself.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • His entourage subdued Sirhan as a teenage busboy cradled the injured Kennedy.
    Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026
  • Chapman’s character was part of the entourage of Tracy Jordan (played by Morgan).
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Here was a man who answered the bell for nearly six years knowing that the audience had virtually disappeared because of a dispute with Comcast.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
  • Yes, there are 104 games, but some will be a hard sell — not just to a global television audience but to locals who might wonder why, for example, Jordan vs Algeria in San Francisco is worth even the lowest admission price of $140.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • His pursuit of those goals continues this summer, when Mora can become only the eighth 17-year-old to play in the World Cup, and the youngest ever for Mexico.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 June 2026
  • The combination of vivid landscapes, attractions and activities, and cultural pursuits makes Samaná a unique destination that continues to gain ground on the world tourism map.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Preposition
  • According to the report, firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the clinic after a call that Aponte was experiencing breathing problems, but the document indicates first responders found a much more serious situation upon arrival.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • To crow on for page after page about how kind and empathetic your husband is provides no value to an electorate who cannot rely on him anymore.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Ramos aside, Portugal has not produced a striker capable of succeeding Ronaldo.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • In 2025 former vice president Michele Mulroney became president of the WGA West and Tom Fontana was elected president of the WGA East, succeeding strike-time leaders Meredith Stiehm and Lisa Takeuchi Cullen.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • In the third episode of the Hulu show about twentysomethings pursuing their careers in Manhattan, Davis (Will Angus) attempts to impress AJ (Ella Hunt) by eating seafood despite his life-threatening shellfish allergy.
    Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
  • Gonzalez said Regional Transit is pursuing partnerships and discussions with previous contributors to secure long-term funding.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • For years, Alabama had balked at obeying a series of orders, including from the Supreme Court itself, to insure that its Black voters have a voice in how they are governed.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • In 2013, Southern Stars players were blackmailed into obeying instructions by having their salaries withheld.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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