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to follow

to follow

1.0
To move behind someone or go along the same path
  • verb
  • /ˈfɑloʊ/
translation icon : seguir
  • Let's follow 'em for now and we'll find an opportunity soon.
  • follow the path
  • follow the route
  • follow closely

Acupressure points just follow the lines of your face.

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Examples

  • They said OK, told me to follow them and rushed out.

  • The dog loves to follow me when I go for a walk in the park.

  • In reality, they follow the red line.

  • And we're like, no, no, no, follow me, get back.

  • Okay, just keep it straight and follow the line of the road.

  • And children tend to follow, in my experience.

  • Have your men follow me up this back elevator.

  • I need you to follow the target inside and find out what she intends to steal.

  • The examiner started the timer and followed along as the student read the story.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The sample included 203 children whom the researchers followed from kindergarten to third grade.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

to track
vsto follow
2.3

To follow where a person or thing goes

goes behind or moves after physically rather than observing
to pursue
vsto follow
3.5

To try to get something you want, like a job or a goal

goes behind or moves after without aiming to achieve or obtain
to chase
vsto follow
855 1.0

To run after someone or something to catch them

goes after or moves behind more slowly or without speed
to trail
vsto follow
50 2.5

Follow someone closely to try to catch them

goes after or moves behind without the intent to catch
to travel along
vsto follow
10 1.6

To go along a road or path

goes behind or moves after someone or along any direction

Antonyms

1.0

To go with someone and show them the way to a place

107 4.1

Happen before something else in time or order

Idioms

To do the same job as someone who came before you, for example a parent

To try to reach a personal goal despite problems

Difficult to understand

Simple to understand and do

3 3.2

To do what most people do without using your own ideas

8.4

To copy someone without thinking and get into trouble

8.6

Stay loyal to someone until you die

Phrasal Verbs

197 3.6

To take further action after something starts to make sure it finishes or succeeds

Take more action to check or finish something after first contact

Continue and finish something you promised to do

To do what the directions say

To do what a person in charge tells you without asking questions

Do what a rule says

to follow suit
  • Informal
33 3.8

To do the same thing someone else did

to follow through
  • Specialized
5 3.0

Finish a swing after you hit or release the ball

Do each required step in the correct order

Keep track of the main idea in a talk or story

Continue an idea or plan until it is finished

Compounds

78 3.9

An action to check progress after an earlier activity

57 3.1

A work that continues an earlier book or project

25 3.0

A doctor's appointment to check recovery after treatment

The act of finishing a task or keeping a promise to do what was planned

follow-through
  • Specialized
5 4.9

The forward movement after a hit or swing that finishes the action smoothly

1 9.1

A rule in cricket making a team bat again immediately after a very low first innings score

How Closely

to shadow
27 6.0
to chase
855 1.0
to pursue
3.5
to follow
1.0
to trail
91 2.2

Surface Forms

follow infinitive
followed past
followed past participle
following present participle
follows third person singular

Etymology

Follow comes from an old English word folgian that meant 'to go after' or 'to accompany'. So to follow someone in real life is to walk or move behind them or travel the same path.