follow

/ˈfɑloʊ/

/ˈfɒləʊ/

Other forms: following; followed; follows

Do you know when orange is the new black? When pleats are in style? Then you must follow fashion — you observe it closely. Follow can also mean you trail along behind someone. You might follow your brother to school.

If you follow something, such as line of argument, that means you understand it. If you follow through on something, such as a diet, that means you stick to it. Follow can also describe a sequence of events. Your election as class president might follow a scandal involving your opponent. Follow can also mean something is a logical consequence of something else. It follows that having read these examples you now understand the various meanings of follow. You follow me?

Definitions of follow

1. verb

   travel behind, go after, come after
   “The ducklings followed their mother around the pond”

   “Please follow the guide through the museum”

   antonyms:

   precede

   move ahead (of others) in time or space

   types:

   dawdle, fall back, fall behind, lag

   hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

   tailgate

   follow at a dangerously close distance

   shadow

   follow, usually without the person's knowledge

   carry

   pursue a line of scent or be a bearer

   drag, drop back, drop behind, get behind, hang back, trail

   lag or linger behind

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
2. verb

   travel along a certain course
   “follow the road”

   “follow the trail”

   synonyms: travel along

   types:

   heel

   follow at the heels of a person

   ascend

   go along towards (a river's) source

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
3. verb

   follow in or as if in pursuit
   “Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life”

   synonyms: pursue

   surveil, survey

   keep under surveillance

   types:

   stalk

   go through (an area) in search of prey

   chase, chase after, dog, give chase, go after, tag, tail, track, trail

   go after with the intent to catch

   haunt, stalk

   follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

   tree

   chase an animal up a tree

   quest

   search the trail of (game)

   hound, hunt, trace

   pursue or chase relentlessly

   run down

   pursue until captured

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
4. verb

   follow with the eyes or the mind
   “She followed the men with the binoculars”

   synonyms: keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over

   trace

   follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something

   types:

   keep tabs on

   keep a record on or watch attentively

   guard

   keep watch over

   invigilate, proctor

   watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating)

   patrol, police

   maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol

   keep guard, stand guard, stand sentinel, stand watch

   watch over so as to protect

   baby-sit, sit

   work or act as a baby-sitter

   baby-sit

   take watchful responsibility for

   type of:

   check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out

   examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
5. verb

   grasp the meaning
   “Can you follow her argument?”

   “When he lectures, I cannot follow”

   type of:

   understand

   know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
6. verb

   keep under surveillance
   synonyms: surveil, survey

   pursue

   follow in or as if in pursuit

   types:

   stalk

   watch, follow, or harass someone in an obsessive way
7. verb

   behave in accordance or in agreement with
   “Follow a pattern”

   “Follow my example”

   synonyms: conform to

   types:

   go by

   be or act in accordance with

   type of:

   copy, imitate, simulate

   reproduce someone's behavior or looks
8. verb

   act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
   “Follow these simple rules”

   synonyms: abide by, comply

   stick to, stick with

   keep to

   adopt, espouse

   choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

   types:

   accommodate, oblige

   provide a service or favor for someone

   toe the line

   do what is expected

   conform to

   observe

   type of:

   obey

   be obedient to
9. verb

   adhere to or practice
   “These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion”

   type of:

   apply, practice, use

   avail oneself to
10. verb

    keep to
    synonyms: stick to, stick with

    abide by, comply

    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes

    type of:

    hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist

    be persistent, refuse to stop
11. verb

    accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
    “Let's follow our great helmsman!”

    “She followed a guru for years”

    type of:

    act, behave, do

    behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
12. verb

    imitate in behavior; take as a model
    “Teenagers follow their friends in everything”

    synonyms: take after

    type of:

    copy, imitate, simulate

    reproduce someone's behavior or looks
13. verb

    choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
    “She followed the feminist movement”

    synonyms: adopt, espouse

    abide by, comply

    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes

    types:

    adhere, stick

    be a devoted follower or supporter

    type of:

    choose, pick out, select, take

    pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
14. verb

    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
    synonyms: trace

    keep abreast, keep up

    keep informed

    keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over

    follow with the eyes or the mind

    type of:

    analyse, analyze, canvass, delve, examine, parse, study

    consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
15. verb

    keep informed
    synonyms: keep abreast, keep up

    trace

    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
16. verb

    work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
    synonyms: be

    types:

    vet

    work as a veterinarian

    cox

    act as the coxswain, in a boat race
17. verb

    perform an accompaniment to
    “The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano”

    synonyms: accompany, play along

    type of:

    play

    play on an instrument
18. verb

    be later in time
    “Tuesday always follows Monday”

    synonyms: postdate

    come after

    come after in time, as a result
19. verb

    come after in time, as a result
    “A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake”

    synonyms: come after

    postdate

    be later in time

    type of:

    ensue, result

    issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
20. verb

    to bring something about at a later time than
    “He followed his lecture with a question and answer period”
21. verb

    be the successor (of)
    “Carter followed Ford”

    synonyms: come after, succeed

    types:

    accede, enter

    take on duties or office

    replace, supercede, supersede, supervene upon, supplant

    take the place or move into the position of

    ascend

    become king or queen

    deputise, deputize, step in, substitute

    act as a substitute

    displace, preempt

    take the place of or have precedence over

    usurp

    take the place of

    oust

    remove and replace
22. verb

    to be the product or result
    synonyms: come

    come

    exist or occur in a certain point in a series

    type of:

    arise, develop, grow, originate, rise, spring up, uprise

    come into existence; take on form or shape
23. verb

    come as a logical consequence; follow logically
    “It follows that your assertion is false”

    synonyms: fall out

    type of:

    ensue, result

    issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
24. verb

    be next
    “Mary plays best, with John and Sue following”

    synonyms:

    come after

    come after in time, as a result

    type of:

    be

    occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere