following 1 of 4

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

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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

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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

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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
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
Following his arrest on May 2, Hinton gained a following online and raised thousands in multiple fundraisers on an online crowdfunding platform, GiveSendGo. David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025 In a following move, Waller will be signing a one-year deal with Miami worth $5 million. Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Noun
Key hires like Ken Merrill, a media veteran, and Nefi Alulema, a social media powerhouse, turned that visibility into a global following. Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025 Right now, find markdowns on cult favorites like the Marc Jacobs Tote Bag and the Bogg Bag that’s garnered a TikTok following for its waterproof body and customization options. Malia Griggs, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
However, one group isn't standing for it, and has been working to further the interests of Italian Americans in the years following the assault on Columbus statues. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 The book, which chronicles her presidential campaign following Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race in August 2024, was published in September. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
  • Help your bulbs store up nutrients for next year by fertilizing again after the flowers have finished blooming.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If Democrats hope to offer voters an alternative to Trumpism next election cycle, their standard-bearer cannot look like its mirror image.
    Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The exchanges have included headline-making ripostes from Christian Pulisic and his entourage.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Loro Piana created the attire that Team Europe athletes and their entourages wore during all official events, both on and off the course.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • He could also be seen nodding his approval after the dance — and earning a thunderous round of excited shouts from the audience.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Dennis Quaid, who played Hendrix’s love interest in the film, was in the audience for the tribute.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For most others, though, the Michelin pursuit is a non-negotiable, to borrow a term from The Bear.
    Laurie Woolever, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Now the pursuit of thrill seekers, subway surfing has picked up steam online, thanks in part to viral social media videos, with the activity having been adopted in big cities such as New York.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Preposition
  • The 2021 parliamentary election drew only 43% turnout, according to the electoral commission, in a vote that had to be brought forward after anti-government protests.
    Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The couple married three years ago after a whirlwind four-month courtship.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Polymarket and its competitors seem to be succeeding where others have failed.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Sybille Darricarrère Lunel, formerly of Dior and Galeries Lafayette, took up her role in July, succeeding acting CEO Ralph Toledano, who remains chairman of the company.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Depending on the price tag that Las Vegas would place on Meyers, the 49ers should seriously consider pursuing a deal for him.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • For two decades, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study discouraged many from pursuing hormone therapy—leaving an entire generation to suffer in silence.
    Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While current power brokers haven’t scrapped movies over their content, yet, Hollywood has a recent history of companies obeying in advance by shelving projects until the tensions cool.
    Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
  • It was intended simply to verify that a nonviolent offender was obeying curfew hours.
    Robert S. Gable, IEEE Spectrum, 20 July 2017

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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