as in next
being the one that comes immediately after another
the following morning, I found the cat was gone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in pursuing
to go after or on the track of
let's follow the boys to their hiding place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obeying
to act according to the commands of
follow me, and you'll do OK
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in traversing
to make one's way through, across, or over
followed the path into the garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in noting
to take notice of and be guided by
don't follow his advice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in watching
to keep one's eyes on
stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of following
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025
The snake catcher showed the python on a monitor in a following clip, while stuck in the sewage pipe.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 May 2025
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Publishers are resistant to picking up work by people that don’t have a big following.
—John McDermott, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Swim in a direction following the shoreline.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for following
Adjective
Leslee Gaul, president and CEO of the city’s promotional group Visit Oceanside, agreed, suggesting the city include $5 million next year and follow up with $4 million in each following year.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025
The snake catcher showed the python on a monitor in a following clip, while stuck in the sewage pipe.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
To date, the motor racing drama has drawn 219,000 spectators for a $3.5M (SAR 13.5M) gross in the territory where Formula One has a strong following.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Publishers are resistant to picking up work by people that don’t have a big following.
—John McDermott, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2025
Verb
What To Know For years following the Great Recession, the country built much fewer homes than needed.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Swim in a direction following the shoreline.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
-
After customers churned from Target, about half made their next purchase at Walmart and about 30% made their next three purchases at Walmart, the firm found.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
-
Technology helps, but without the right culture and processes, the shiniest dashboard will just become the next set of vanity metrics.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
One of the first notable names to bring an entourage to the Galt House suites in 1972 was then-Ford Motor Co. CEO Henry Ford II, who toured the company's assembly plants in Louisville.—
Leo Bertucci,
The Courier-Journal,
19 July 2025
-
Chesky, however, travels with an entourage: press attachés, a couple of executives, and a guy named Chase, whose job is to fill Chesky’s social-media accounts with humanizing photos of the boss.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The performance that had the audience clapping and hooting along as the quartet lit up the stage with its infectious original.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
-
This inconsistency creates immediate distrust among your audiences.—
Danielle Sabrina,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
As the final major of 2025, The Open at Royal Portrush promises to deliver compelling storylines -- from McIlroy’s quest for home glory, to Scheffler’s pursuit of a links major and Schauffele’s bid for back-to-back titles -- at a beloved venue in front of the largest crowds outside of St Andrews.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The pursuit of an appeal comes amid controversy over the secrecy of the arbitration decision, the lack of communication about it to NFL players and related questions about the leadership of NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
Preposition
-
Innocent bystanders and vacationers have become fill-ins for lifeguards, risking their own lives to help struggling swimmers, with several dying in the process: Parents going in after their children.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
-
Buxton gets a breather after an eventful week Byron Buxton was out of the lineup Sunday, but only because Baldelli wanted to give him a breather.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
But battling isn’t the same as succeeding.—
Ben Standig,
The Athletic,
3 Jan. 2025
-
As job roles continue to shift, the professionals who can combine technical knowledge with creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability will be the ones driving change and succeeding in the future of work.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
1 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Nebraska is all in on pursuing Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Countries in Africa and the Americas are pursuing an end to river blindness by 2035.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
If successful, OpenAI’s suite could reshape enterprise software by offering a more fluid, AI-native experience.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
The 12-acre campus features 1,500 feet of private white-sand beaches, luxurious rooms and suites, a full-service spa, marina, rooftop and oceanfront pools, and two restaurants.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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