What does "follow" mean?
In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.
Follow
/ˈfɒl.əʊ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.
- Grammar: follow is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: comply, pursue, succeed, abide.
- Useful contrasts: intentional disregard, offending, pioneering method.
- Usage evidence: You may as well follow his advice.
How to use "follow"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "follow" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "follow" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "follow" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "follow" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "follow" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "comply" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "follow", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it. attributive, sometimes
"a follow shot"
- 2 The act of following another user's online activity.
"It doesn't take too many follows to become overwhelmed with the deluge of content on Twitter."
Verb
- 1 To go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction, especially with the intent of catching. ambitransitive
"Follow that car!"
- 2 keep informed wordnet
- 3 To go or come after in a sequence. ambitransitive
"B follows A in the alphabet."
- 4 behave in accordance or in agreement with wordnet
- 5 To carry out (orders, instructions, etc.). transitive
"Follow these instructions to the letter."
Show 30 more definitions
- 6 keep to wordnet
- 7 To live one's life according to (religion, teachings, etc). transitive
- 8 grasp the meaning wordnet
- 9 To understand, to pay attention to. transitive
"Do you follow me?"
- 10 follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something wordnet
- 11 To watch, to keep track of (reports of) some event or person. transitive
"I followed the incumbent throughout the election."
- 12 perform an accompaniment to wordnet
- 13 To subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform. transitive
"If you want to see more of our articles, follow us on Twitter."
- 14 imitate in behavior; take as a model wordnet
- 15 To be a logical consequence of something. ambitransitive
"It follows that if two numbers are not equal then one is larger than the other."
- 16 travel along a certain course wordnet
- 17 To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling. transitive
"O had I but followed the Arts."
- 18 to travel behind, go after, come after wordnet
- 19 follow in or as if in pursuit wordnet
- 20 keep under surveillance wordnet
- 21 choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans wordnet
- 22 to subscribe to someone's updates on social media wordnet
- 23 to be subscribed to updates from another user on social media wordnet
- 24 be the successor (of) wordnet
- 25 work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function wordnet
- 26 follow with the eyes or the mind wordnet
- 27 act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes wordnet
- 28 adhere to or practice wordnet
- 29 accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of wordnet
- 30 to be the product or result wordnet
- 31 be later in time wordnet
- 32 come as a logical consequence; follow logically wordnet
- 33 come after in time, as a result wordnet
- 34 be next wordnet
- 35 to bring something about at a later time than wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You may as well follow his advice."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "follow"?
Common synonyms include: comply, pursue, succeed, abide, abide by, abide by.
How do you use "follow" in a sentence?
You may as well follow his advice.
How do you pronounce "follow"?
Pronounced /ˈfɒl.əʊ/.
Etymology
From Middle English folwen, folȝen, folgen, from Old English folgian (“to follow, pursue”), from Proto-West Germanic *folgēn, from Proto-Germanic *fulgāną (“to follow”).