FOLLOWS Synonyms: 171 Similar and Opposite Words

follows

verb

present tense third-person singular of follow

as in replaces

to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pursues

to go after or on the track of let's follow the boys to their hiding place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obeys

to act according to the commands of follow me, and you'll do OK

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traverses

to make one's way through, across, or over followed the path into the garden

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as in notes

to take notice of and be guided by don't follow his advice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in observes

to keep one's eyes on stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

winks
blinks

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 follows The story follows a Chinese chef in a fictional Middle Eastern city who transforms his restaurant into a sanctuary for local orphans and civilians amid regional armed conflict. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026 Taylor Swift follows right behind Madonna with 11 nominations tonight. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026 Unlike a conventional ballistic missile, which follows a relatively predictable arcing trajectory, an HGV generates aerodynamic lift and can maneuver during its descent. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026 The decision not to show Meadows’ death follows a public plea from his mother, Angela Meadows, who asked Discovery not to broadcast footage of her son’s fatal accident. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 Castro whips her head around and follows him, punching him in the back. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 Amelia Dimoldenberg, creator of Chicken Shop Date, which launches its final season next week, follows in the footsteps of Jeff Goldblum and Jamie Demetriou to host this week. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026 Friday’s verdict follows several others against Meta recently. — Mikella Schuettler, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 The Danish drama, written by Lyngstad and Emilie Koefoed Larse, follows a man called Richard (Jan Gunnar Røise). — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for follows

Verb

Analog Summer replaces doomscrolling with books, film cameras and offline hobbies.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
The issue is not whether blockchain replaces existing infrastructure.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of replaces

Verb

The call comes as Washington pursues tentative outreach with China on coordinating AI developments, including through a possible deconfliction hotline with Beijing, though a similar mechanism notably failed during a 2001 security crisis.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Making a partial payment and changing how a debt collector pursues the remaining balance aren't necessarily the same thing.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of pursues

Verb

Ricky obeys, blowing off plans to watch game tape with Russ, out of disguise.

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
The human brain is a physical object, composed of biological material that obeys the laws that govern the rest of the universe, computers included.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of obeys

Verb

This fourth full-length from the London jazz quintet traverses Black diasporic sound traditions — grime, reggae, Afrobeat — mulling over the question of how music so joyous can be rooted in histories of pain.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
Reliever optimizes availability After taking his head out of the cold tub, Blubaugh traverses the bowels of Daikin Park.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of traverses

Verb

Vogue notes the trend appears on jackets made of wool, leather and nylon, spanning heavier winter coats through lighter weatherproof options.

— Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
At the same time, as the Burke Museum notes, the low-lying forests of nut and beech trees the birds depended on were cleared for farmland as settlement spread west.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of notes

Verb

Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade, eases oil sanctions and observes a Lebanon ceasefire.

— Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
The play becomes an intellectual exercise — often a technically compelling one, and one that thankfully observes the comedy of Chekhov’s struggling souls as much as their tragedy.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026