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Definition follow in American English

follow verb

verb
/ˈfɑloʊ/
1

to walk, drive, etc. behind someone, when you are going in the same direction as them

Example

Ralph set off down the hill, and I followed.

Example

Jim opened the door and followed me down the hall.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to walk, drive, etc. closely behind someone in order to watch them

Example

I felt sure that someone was following me.

Example

I think we're being followed.

Synonyms and related words
2

to happen or come after something else

Example

The six o'clock news follows our show.

Example

In the weeks that followed the situation was very tense.

Example

The wedding will be followed by a reception.

Example

We had soup followed by lasagna and salad.

Example

There's apple pie and ice cream to follow.

Example

There followed seven months of hard negotiations.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

to happen as a direct result of something else

Example

They were warned that if the rebels did not surrender, severe reprisals would follow.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

if you follow one thing with another, you do the second after you have done the first

Example

She followed the success of her first book with another remarkable novel.

Synonyms and related words
3

to watch where someone or something is going

Example

His eyes followed the car to the end of the driveway.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

to listen carefully to what someone is saying

Example

He followed every word of the trial.

Synonyms and related words
4

to obey an order, or to do what someone has advised you to do

Example

You must follow a few simple guidelines.

Example

She refused to follow our advice.

Example

The manufacturer's instructions should always be followed carefully.

Synonyms and related words
4.1

to go where signs and directions tell you to go

Example

We followed Joe's directions and found the house easily.

Example

Follow the signs for Lancaster.

Synonyms and related words
5

to go along a road, river, etc. in the same direction as it does

Example

Follow the road down the hill into an intersection.

Synonyms and related words
5.1

to go along a path parallel to something

Example

The road follows the old stream bed.

Synonyms and related words
6

to be interested in the progress or development of someone or something

Example

My father followed the Yankees for 40 years.

Example

Have you been following the election campaign?

Synonyms and related words
7

to understand something, especially something long or complicated

Example

I couldn't follow what Professor Hope was saying.

Example

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you.

Example

Their system is pretty easy to follow.

Synonyms and related words
8

to do the same thing that someone else has done

Example

She decided not to follow her mother into banking.

Example

The U.S. may follow Canada's example by banning these products.

Example

Other students followed her lead and boycotted classes.

Example

They began to offer takeout food, and other restaurants followed suit.

Synonyms and related words
9

if you follow a profession or way of life, you do that job or spend your life in that way

10

to believe what a religion or system of ideas teaches and to do the things that it tells you to do

Example

I follow the teachings of the Buddha.

Example

those who follow Christianity

Synonyms and related words
Example

All the murders have followed the same grisly pattern.

Example

Up to now, ozone losses have tended to follow a two-year cycle.

Synonyms and related words
12

if something follows, it must be true because of something else that is true

Example

Two important implications follow from this.

Example

It does not necessarily follow that all criminals come from deprived backgrounds.

Synonyms and related words
13

to deal with the progress or development of someone or something in a book, movie, or television program

Example

The cartoon follows the adventures of an ant named Flick.

Synonyms and related words
14

if you follow someone on the online social networking service Twitter, you receive the Tweets that they send

Example

Take a look at our list of the 40 people you should follow on Twitter.

Synonyms and related words
15

in the future; after a particular time or event

Example

The waltz first became fashionable in Vienna around the 1780s, spreading to many other countries in the years to follow.

Definition follow in American English