Dictionary entry details
• FOLLOW (verb)
Meaning:
To travel behind, go after, come after
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context examples:
The ducklings followed their mother around the pond / Please follow the guide through the museum
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
carry (pursue a line of scent or be a bearer)
shadow (follow, usually without the person's knowledge)
tailgate (follow at a dangerously close distance)
dawdle; fall back; fall behind; lag (hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence examples:
They follow the car down the avenue
Sam cannot follow Sue
Antonym:
precede (move ahead (of others) in time or space)
Meaning:
Be later in time
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
postdate; follow
Context example:
Tuesday always follows Monday
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Come as a logical consequence; follow logically
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
fall out; follow
Context examples:
It follows that your assertion is false / the theorem falls out nicely
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
ensue; result (issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
It ----s that CLAUSE
Meaning:
Travel along a certain course
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
travel along; follow
Context examples:
follow the road / follow the trail
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
heel (follow at the heels of a person)
ascend (go along towards (a river's) source)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
abide by; comply; follow
Context examples:
He complied with my instructions / You must comply or else! / Follow these simple rules / abide by the rules
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
obey (be obedient to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
accommodate; oblige (provide a service or favor for someone)
toe the line (do what is expected)
conform to (observe)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Come after in time, as a result
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
come after; follow
Context example:
A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
ensue; result (issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Behave in accordance or in agreement with
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
conform to; follow
Context examples:
Follow a pattern / Follow my example
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
go by (be or act in accordance with)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Be next
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
be (occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
adopt; espouse; follow
Context examples:
She followed the feminist movement / The candidate espouses Republican ideals
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
adhere; stick (be a devoted follower or supporter)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
To bring something about at a later time than
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context examples:
She followed dinner with a brandy / He followed his lecture with a question and answer period
Cause:
follow (be next)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Imitate in behavior; take as a model
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
take after; follow
Context example:
Teenagers follow their friends in everything
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam cannot follow Sue
Meaning:
Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
trace; follow
Context examples:
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba / trace the student's progress
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
analyse; analyze; canvas; canvass; examine; study (consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Follow with the eyes or the mind
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
watch over; keep an eye on; watch; observe; follow
Context examples:
Keep an eye on the baby, please! / The world is watching Sarajevo / She followed the men with the binoculars
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
check; check into; check out; check over; check up on; go over; look into; suss out (examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
invigilate; proctor (watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating))
guard (to keep watch over)
keep tabs on (keep a record on or watch attentively)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The children follow the ball
Meaning:
Be the successor (of)
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
come after; succeed; follow
Context examples:
Carter followed Ford / Will Charles succeed to the throne?
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
accede; enter (take on duties or office)
replace; supercede; supersede; supervene upon; supplant (take the place or move into the position of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Perform an accompaniment to
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
play along; accompany; follow
Context example:
The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
play (play on an instrument)
Domain category:
music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Keep informed
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
keep abreast; keep up; follow
Context example:
He kept up on his country's foreign policies
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
To be the product or result
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
come; follow
Context examples:
Melons come from a vine / Understanding comes from experience
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
arise; develop; grow; originate; rise; spring up; uprise (come into existence; take on form or shape)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
Let's follow our great helmsman! / She followed a guru for years
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Adhere to or practice
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
apply; practice; use (avail oneself to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
be; follow
Context examples:
He is a herpetologist / She is our resident philosopher
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
vet (work as a veterinarian)
cox (act as the coxswain, in a boat race)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Keep under surveillance
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
surveil; survey; follow
Context example:
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
They want to follow the prisoners
Meaning:
Follow in or as if in pursuit
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
pursue; follow
Context examples:
The police car pursued the suspected attacker / Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "follow"):
stalk (go through (an area) in search of prey)
chase; chase after; dog; give chase; go after; tag; tail; track; trail (go after with the intent to catch)
haunt; stalk (follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They follow the car down the avenue
Meaning:
Grasp the meaning
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context examples:
Can you follow her argument? / When he lectures, I cannot follow
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue follow the movie
Meaning:
Keep to
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
stick with; stick to; follow
Context examples:
Stick to your principles / stick to the diet
Hypernyms (to "follow" is one way to...):
hang in; hang on; hold on; persevere; persist (be persistent, refuse to stop)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing
