follow
follow /ˈfɑːloʊ/
verb
-
(
)
To travel behind, go after, come after
(
follow
)
to travel behind, go after, come after
The ducklings followed their mother around the pond
The ducklings followed their mother around the pond
Please follow the guide through the museum
Please follow the guide through the museum
-
()
Be later in time
(
postdate
, follow
)
be later in time
Tuesday always follows Monday
Tuesday always follows Monday
-
()
Come as a logical consequence; follow logically
(
fall out
, follow
)
come as a logical consequence; follow logically
It follows that your assertion is false
It follows that your assertion is false
The theorem falls out nicely
the theorem falls out nicely
-
()
Travel along a certain course
(
travel along
, follow
)
travel along a certain course
Follow the road
follow the road
Follow the trail
follow the trail
-
()
Act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
(
abide by
, comply
, follow
)
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
He complied with my instructions
He complied with my instructions
You must comply or else!
You must comply or else!
Follow these simple rules
Follow these simple rules
Abide by the rules
abide by the rules
-
()
Come after in time, as a result
(
come after
, follow
)
come after in time, as a result
A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
-
()
Behave in accordance or in agreement with
(
conform to
, follow
)
behave in accordance or in agreement with
Follow a pattern
Follow a pattern
Follow my example
Follow my example
-
()
Be next
(
follow
)
be next
Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
-
()
Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
(
espouse
, follow
, adopt
)
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
She followed the feminist movement
She followed the feminist movement
The candidate espouses Republican ideals
The candidate espouses Republican ideals
-
()
Imitate in behavior; take as a model
(
take after
, follow
)
imitate in behavior; take as a model
Teenagers follow their friends in everything
Teenagers follow their friends in everything
-
()
To bring something about at a later time than
(
follow
)
to bring something about at a later time than
She followed dinner with a brandy
She followed dinner with a brandy
He followed his lecture with a question and answer period
He followed his lecture with a question and answer period
-
()
Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
(
follow
, trace
)
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
Trace the student's progress
trace the student's progress
Trace one's ancestry
trace one's ancestry
-
()
Follow with the eyes or the mind
(
watch over
, observe
, follow
, keep an eye on
, watch
)
follow with the eyes or the mind
Keep an eye on the baby, please!
Keep an eye on the baby, please!
The world is watching Sarajevo
The world is watching Sarajevo
She followed the men with the binoculars
She followed the men with the binoculars
-
()
Be the successor (of)
(
come after
, follow
, succeed
)
be the successor (of)
Carter followed Ford
Carter followed Ford
Will Charles succeed to the throne?
Will Charles succeed to the throne?
-
()
Keep informed
(
follow
, keep abreast
, keep up
)
keep informed
He kept up on his country's foreign policies
He kept up on his country's foreign policies
-
()
(music) perform an accompaniment to
(
play along
, follow
, accompany
)
(music) perform an accompaniment to
The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
-
Keep to
(
follow
, stick with
, stick to
)
keep to
Stick to your principles
Stick to your principles
Stick to the diet
stick to the diet
-
Grasp the meaning
(
follow
)
grasp the meaning
Can you follow her argument?
Can you follow her argument?
When he lectures, I cannot follow
When he lectures, I cannot follow
-
Follow in or as if in pursuit
(
follow
, pursue
)
follow in or as if in pursuit
The police car pursued the suspected attacker
The police car pursued the suspected attacker
Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
-
Keep under surveillance
(
follow
, surveil
, survey
)
keep under surveillance
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
-
Work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
(
follow
, be
)
work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
He is a herpetologist
He is a herpetologist
She is our resident philosopher
She is our resident philosopher
-
Adhere to or practice
(
follow
)
adhere to or practice
These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
-
Accept and follow the leadership, command or guidance of
(
follow
)
accept and follow the leadership, command or guidance of
Let's follow our great helmsman!
Let's follow our great helmsman!
She followed a guru for years
She followed a guru for years
-
To be the product or result
(
follow
, come
)
to be the product or result
Melons come from a vine
Melons come from a vine
Understanding comes from experience
Understanding comes from experience
