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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
5
6

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
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, 19 June 2026 In a following slide, Lively called out Stoney Clover, which held a three-day pop-up event in New York City in celebration of the Knicks making it to the Finals. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Noun
With his increasingly massive following, Fuentes is positioned to be a kingmaker in conservative politics. — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026 Andrew and Tristan Tate are former kickboxers who built a large online following by sharing extreme masculine and misogynistic content. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Preposition
Trump’s request will likely now no longer be considered relevant following Monday’s order. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Verb
The kaiju epic picks up in 1949, two years after the events of Minus One, as the Shikishima family once again takes up arms following the emergence of a new threat in the form of the vaunted King Ghidorah. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026 The first six pieces, ordered under subscription, are presented in platinum, with the following 14 made in titanium (priced at 72,000 francs). — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
  • Questions also remain about the district’s disciplinary investigation, Young’s employment status and what changes, if any, administrators will make to the football program before next season.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Choose what matters to you, and let someone else work out their own next step.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Chris Brown clashes with Frank Ocean Brown and his entourage clashed with fellow singer-songwriter Frank Ocean and his group outside a West Hollywood recording studio, reportedly over a parking space.
    — Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The shooting followed an argument involving rapper Lil Baby’s entourage.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The shift also comes at a precarious time for audience traffic.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Disabled audiences, artists, and music professionals remain vastly understudied, particularly in the United States.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • For more physical pursuits, the hotel has a nine-hole golf course and driving range, as well as three tennis courts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Christine Grimm, Founder of Aria Consulting International & Master Coach, guides leaders in the pursuit of sustainable growth and change.
    — Christine Grimm, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Preposition
  • Blue Origin accelerates development Northstar reached development testing just 11 months after receiving program approval.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • There’s no doubt this is a see-and-be-seen destination in the city, chosen for graduation celebrations, baby showers, birthdays, and after-work drinks with colleagues.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The creative director was also named the CFDA’s Emerging Designer of the Year in 2023 and was appointed creative director of Proenza Schouler in September 2025, succeeding founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • He was named president in 2014, succeeding the studio’s first president, Ed Catmull.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Thea Energy is pursuing a different approach with a planar-coil architecture intended to simplify magnet production, construction and maintenance.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The disputes later spilled into the courts, with players challenging suspensions and the rival organizations pursuing competing legal claims.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Trump threatened Indiana Republicans for not obeying him with an altered map and ran primary challenges to a number of state senators, beating several.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • People are riding e-bikes and e-motorcycles, sometimes riding recklessly, traveling at high speeds, or not obeying the rules of the road.
    — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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