follow
follow
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "follow" is /ˈfɒl.oʊ/.
First Syllable (/ˈfɒl/):
/f/: Voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɒ/: Open back rounded vowel
/l/: Alveolar lateral approximant
Second Syllable (/oʊ/):
/oʊ/: Close-mid back rounded vowel (diphthong)
Word Form Variations
Base Form: follow
Third-person singular present: follows
Present Participle: following
Past Simple: followed
Past Participle: followed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To go or come after (a person or thing) in the same direction, typically in pursuit or as a companion.
Definition: When you follow someone, you move behind them, often with the intention of keeping up, observing, or accompanying them.
Synonyms: trail, pursue, chase, accompany, attend
Antonyms: lead, precede, abandon, avoid
To act in accordance with; obey (an instruction, example, or rule).
Definition: This refers to adhering to guidelines, commands, or a standard set by someone or something else.
Synonyms: obey, observe, comply with, heed, abide by
Antonyms: disregard, ignore, disobey, violate, defy
To take an interest in and keep oneself informed about the ongoing development or progress of (something).
Definition: This sense implies maintaining awareness and staying updated on a particular topic, event, or person's activities.
Synonyms: monitor, track, keep up with, watch, observe
Antonyms: neglect, disregard, lose track of, ignore
To understand the meaning or logic of (something said or explained).
Definition: When you follow an explanation, you grasp its meaning and comprehend the points being made.
Synonyms: understand, comprehend, grasp, apprehend, get
Antonyms: misunderstand, misinterpret, confuse, lose
Noun
An act of following or pursuing something.
Definition: In this context, "follow" refers to an instance where one person or thing goes after another, often used in specific technical or social media contexts.
Synonyms: pursuit, chase, tail, tracking
Antonyms: lead, avoidance
A person's supporters or admirers, especially on social media.
Definition: This refers to the collective group of people who choose to receive updates or content from an individual or entity, particularly in the context of digital platforms.
Synonyms: audience, subscribers, fans, devotees, adherents
Antonyms: detractors, opponents, critics
Examples of Use
Books:
"He tried to follow the intricate plot of the novel, but the twists and turns often left him confused." (From a review of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Goodreads, March 2020)
"As a young boy, he was told to follow his dreams, no matter how ambitious they seemed." (From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, May 1988)
Newspapers:
"The local police urged residents to follow all safety guidelines during the ongoing heatwave." (The Daily Nation, July 2024)
"Economists continue to follow the fluctuating stock market closely amidst global uncertainties." (The Wall Street Journal, June 2025)
Online Publications:
"To stay updated on the latest tech innovations, be sure to follow our dedicated news feed." (TechCrunch, April 2025)
"You can follow our step-by-step guide to baking the perfect sourdough bread." (Serious Eats, November 2023)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Just follow the yellow brick road." (From The Wizard of Oz, August 1939)
Television Series: "Previously on Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen continued to follow her quest for the Iron Throne." (From Game of Thrones series recap, HBO, April 2019)
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "I will follow you into the dark." (From "I Will Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie, 2005)
Video Games: "Players must follow the glowing path to complete the next mission objective." (Instructional text in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo, March 2017)
Social Media: "Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for daily updates and exclusive content!" (Common call to action on various social media platforms, ongoing)
General Public Discourse:
"You should always follow your doctor's advice." (Common health recommendation)
"The children were told to follow the leader during the game." (Playground instruction)
"Did you follow what the professor was saying in the lecture?" (Everyday conversation about comprehension)
"We need to follow up on that client's request by the end of the day." (Business communication)
10 Quotes Using Follow
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Then, and only then, will you follow your true destiny." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"I can follow many a thing when it is a question of profit, but I have never yet known good come of war." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War)
"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. You will follow that goal with passion." (Albert Einstein)
"Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity. You must follow it closely." (Hippocrates)
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Let us follow that light." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan)
"To follow knowledge, like a sinking star, beyond the utmost bound of human thought." (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ulysses")
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. People will follow you." (John Quincy Adams)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't follow a path because it is easy." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, June 2005)
"If you build it, he will come. And they will follow you." (W.P. Kinsella, Shoeless Joe)
Etymology
The word "follow" has a long history, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
It comes from the Old English word "folgian." This "folgian" already had the core meaning of "to go after," "to pursue," or "to accompany."
So, essentially, from its very first known uses, the word "follow" meant pretty much what it means today: moving behind someone or something, either physically or metaphorically (like following instructions).
Over time, as languages evolved, "folgian" transformed into "follow," but that fundamental meaning of going after or accompanying has stuck around for centuries. You can see similar words in other Germanic languages like German ("folgen") and Dutch ("volgen"), which also mean "to follow," showing their shared origin.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Follow
Follow suit: To do the same thing as someone else has just done.
Follow through: To complete an action or plan.
Follow up: To take further action on something; to check on progress.
Follow your nose: To go straight ahead; to trust your instinct.
Follow the leader: To imitate the actions of a person who is guiding or leading.
Follow the crowd: To do what most other people are doing.
Follow one's heart: To act according to one's emotions or desires, rather than reason.
Follow a pattern: To conform to a regular or established way of doing things.
As follows: What comes next; indicating a list or explanation.
To follow orders: To obey instructions.
To follow a story: To keep up with developments in a news report or narrative.
To follow in someone's footsteps: To do as someone else did before, especially a parent or mentor.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of follow from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
