English dictionary



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English verb: follow

1. follow (motion) to travel behind, go after, come after


SamplesThe ducklings followed their mother around the pond.
Please follow the guide through the museum.


ExamplesThey follow the car down the avenue, Sam cannot follow Sue


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)go, locomote, move, travel


Narrower (hyponym)carry, dawdle, fall back, fall behind, lag, shadow, tailgate


Antonymsprecede, lead

2. follow (stative) be later in time


SamplesTuesday always follows Monday.


Synonymspostdate


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Verb groupcome after, follow


Antonymsantecede, antedate, forego, precede, predate, forgo

3. follow (stative) come as a logical consequence; follow logically


SamplesIt follows that your assertion is false.
The theorem falls out nicely.


Synonymsfall out


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
It ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)ensue, result

4. follow (motion) travel along a certain course


SamplesFollow the road.
Follow the trail.


Synonymstravel along


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)go, locomote, move, travel


Narrower (hyponym)ascend, heel

5. follow (social) act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes


SamplesHe complied with my instructions.
You must comply or else!.
Follow these simple rules.
Abide by the rules.


Synonymsabide by, comply


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)obey


Narrower (hyponym)accommodate, conform to, oblige, toe the line


Verb groupadopt, espouse, follow, follow, stick to, stick with

6. follow (stative) come after in time, as a result


SamplesA terrible tsunami followed the earthquake.


Synonymscome after


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)ensue, result


Verb groupfollow, follow, postdate

7. follow (change) behave in accordance or in agreement with


SamplesFollow a pattern.
Follow my example.


Synonymsconform to


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)copy, imitate, simulate


Narrower (hyponym)go by

8. follow (stative) be next


SamplesMary plays best, with John and Sue following.


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)be


Verb groupcome after, follow

9. follow (possession) choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans


SamplesShe followed the feminist movement.
The candidate espouses Republican ideals.


Synonymsadopt, espouse


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)choose, pick out, select, take


Narrower (hyponym)adhere, stick


Verb groupabide by, comply, follow

10. follow (stative) to bring something about at a later time than


SamplesShe followed dinner with a brandy.
He followed his lecture with a question and answer period.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Causefollow

11. follow (creation) imitate in behavior; take as a model


SamplesTeenagers follow their friends in everything.


ExamplesSam cannot follow Sue


Synonymstake after


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)copy, imitate, simulate

12. follow (cognition) follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something


SamplesWe must follow closely the economic development is Cuba.
Trace the student's progress.


Synonymstrace


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)analyse, analyze, canvas, canvass, examine, study


Verb groupfollow, follow, keep abreast, keep an eye on, keep up, observe, watch, watch over

13. follow (social) follow with the eyes or the mind


SamplesKeep an eye on the baby, please!.
The world is watching Sarajevo.
She followed the men with the binoculars.


ExamplesThe children follow the ball


Synonymskeep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out


Narrower (hyponym)guard, invigilate, keep tabs on, proctor


Verb groupfollow, trace

14. follow (social) be the successor (of)


SamplesCarter followed Ford.
Will Charles succeed to the throne?.


Synonymscome after, succeed


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Somebody ----s PP


Narrower (hyponym)accede, enter, replace, supercede, supersede, supervene upon, supplant


Antonymscome before, precede

15. follow (creation) perform an accompaniment to


SamplesThe orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano.


Synonymsaccompany, play along


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)play


Domain categorymusic

16. follow (change) keep informed


SamplesHe kept up on his country's foreign policies.


Synonymskeep abreast, keep up


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s PP


Verb groupfollow, trace

17. follow (stative) to be the product or result


SamplesMelons come from a vine.
Understanding comes from experience.


Synonymscome


Pattern of useSomething is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)arise, develop, grow, originate, rise, spring up, uprise


Verb groupcome

18. follow (social) accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of


SamplesLet's follow our great helmsman!.
She followed a guru for years.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)act, behave, do

19. follow (social) adhere to or practice


SamplesThese people still follow the laws of their ancient religion.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)apply, practice, use

20. follow (social) work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function


SamplesHe is a herpetologist.
She is our resident philosopher.


Synonymsbe


Pattern of useSomebody ----s PP


Narrower (hyponym)cox, vet

21. follow (perception) keep under surveillance


SamplesThe police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing.


ExamplesThey want to follow the prisoners


Synonymssurveil, survey


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Verb groupfollow, pursue

22. follow (motion) follow in or as if in pursuit


SamplesThe police car pursued the suspected attacker.
Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life.


ExamplesThey follow the car down the avenue


Synonymspursue


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)go, locomote, move, travel


Narrower (hyponym)chase, chase after, dog, give chase, go after, haunt, stalk, stalk, tag, tail, track, trail


Verb groupfollow, surveil, survey

23. follow (cognition) grasp the meaning


SamplesCan you follow her argument?.
When he lectures, I cannot follow.


ExamplesSam and Sue follow the movie


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)understand

24. follow (change) keep to


SamplesStick to your principles.
Stick to the diet.


Synonymsstick to, stick with


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s VERB-ing


Broader (hypernym)hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist


Verb groupabide by, comply, follow









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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