Synonyms for follow
ˈfɒl oʊfol·low

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. followverb

   To go or come after in physical space.

   Follow that car!

   Synonyms:
   trail, tail

   Antonyms:
   guide, lead

2. followverb

   To go or come after in a sequence.

   B follows A in the alphabet.

   Synonyms:
   ensue, succeed

   Antonyms:
   precede

3. followverb

   To carry out in accordance to (orders, instructions, etc).

   Follow these instructions to the letter.

   Synonyms:
   pursue

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follow

   Anything that comes after or goes after another, either in space or in time, is said to follow it. A servant follows or attends his master; a victorious general may follow the retiring enemy merely to watch and hold him in check; he chases or pursues with intent to overtake and attack; the chase is closer and hotter than the pursuit. (Compare synonyms for HUNT.) One event may follow another either with or without special connection; if it ensues, there is some orderly connection; as, the ensuing year; if it results from another, there is some relation of effect, consequence, or inference. A clerk observes his employer's directions. A child obeys his parent's commands, follows or copies his example, imitates his speech and manners. The compositor follows copy; the incoming succeeds the outgoing official.

   Synonyms:
   accompany, attend, chase, come after, copy, ensue, go after, heed, imitate, obey, observe, practise, pursue, result, succeed

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follow

   Synonyms:
   pursue, chase, accompany, obey, imitate, succeed, result, ensue, attend, shadow, observe, copy

   Antonyms:
   avoid, elude, quit, disobey, precede, cause, produce, abandon, shun

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. followverb

   to travel behind, go after, come after

   "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"; "Please follow the guide through the museum"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

2. postdate, followverb

   be later in time

   "Tuesday always follows Monday"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

3. follow, fall outverb

   come as a logical consequence; follow logically

   "It follows that your assertion is false"; "the theorem falls out nicely"

   Synonyms:
   conform to, play along, espouse, watch, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, pass off, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, happen, go on, keep abreast, occur, pass, take place, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with, come out, hap, come about

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

4. follow, travel alongverb

   travel along a certain course

   "follow the road"; "follow the trail"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   precede, lead

5. comply, follow, abide byverb

   act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes

   "He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, respect, honor, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, honour, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   precede, lead

6. follow, come afterverb

   come after in time, as a result

   "A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

7. follow, conform toverb

   behave in accordance or in agreement with

   "Follow a pattern"; "Follow my example"

   Synonyms:
   meet, fit, take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

8. followverb

   be next

   "Mary plays best, with John and Sue following"

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

9. adopt, follow, espouseverb

   choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

   "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals"

   Synonyms:
   conform to, take in, embrace, play along, espouse, acquire, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, sweep up, take, adopt, hook up with, borrow, comply, come after, assume, abide by, survey, take over, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, get hitched with, get married, wed, watch, keep abreast, marry, stick to, observe, surveil, conjoin, dramatise, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, take on, trace, stick with, dramatize, take up

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

10. followverb

    to bring something about at a later time than

    "She followed dinner with a brandy"; "He followed his lecture with a question and answer period"

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

11. take after, followverb

    imitate in behavior; take as a model

    "Teenagers follow their friends in everything"

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

12. trace, followverb

    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something

    "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, hunt, espouse, decipher, travel along, keep an eye on, hound, fall out, describe, adopt, survey, comply, come after, pursue, abide by, be, watch over, accompany, take after, keep up, watch, keep abreast, stick to, observe, surveil, line, succeed, draw, retrace, come, postdate, trace, stick with, delineate

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

13. watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye onverb

    follow with the eyes or the mind

    "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, detect, take in, play along, postdate, come, espouse, travel along, keep an eye on, watch out, fall out, find, view, adopt, notice, come after, comply, keep, pursue, abide by, determine, see, find out, look on, be, remark, keep abreast, celebrate, watch over, stick with, take note, honor, take after, keep up, survey, watch, look out, stick to, observe, surveil, honour, mention, succeed, respect, accompany, ascertain, catch, maintain, trace, learn, discover, note, check

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

14. succeed, come after, followverb

    be the successor (of)

    "Carter followed Ford"; "Will Charles succeed to the throne?"

    Synonyms:
    keep up, take after, adopt, watch over, comply, stick with, keep an eye on, deliver the goods, be, travel along, win, come, observe, play along, abide by, come after, watch, trace, surveil, accompany, fall out, postdate, bring home the bacon, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, come through, espouse, conform to, succeed

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

15. play along, accompany, followverb

    perform an accompaniment to

    "The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, company, play along, espouse, go along, travel along, keep an eye on, come with, fall out, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, companion, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, go with, watch, keep abreast, keep company, attach to, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

16. keep up, keep abreast, followverb

    keep informed

    "He kept up on his country's foreign policies"

    Synonyms:
    take after, adopt, watch over, fall out, pursue, keep up, conserve, comply, watch, be, come, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, stick with, trace, surveil, accompany, sustain, maintain, postdate, succeed, keep abreast, stick to, survey, preserve, espouse, prolong, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

17. come, followverb

    to be the product or result

    "Melons come from a vine"; "Understanding comes from experience"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, arrive, play along, descend, hail, espouse, get, travel along, keep an eye on, get along, fall out, fare, adopt, succeed, add up, come after, come in, abide by, survey, be, come up, watch over, fall, pursue, take after, keep up, do, observe, watch, keep abreast, occur, issue forth, make out, stick to, number, surveil, amount, derive, accompany, come, postdate, trace, total, stick with, comply

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

18. followverb

    accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of

    "Let's follow our great helmsman!"; "She followed a guru for years"

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

19. followverb

    adhere to or practice

    "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion"

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

20. be, followverb

    work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

    "He is a herpetologist"; "She is our resident philosopher"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, embody, espouse, make up, travel along, keep up, personify, fall out, keep an eye on, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, live, cost, watch over, pursue, take after, equal, exist, watch, keep abreast, represent, comprise, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, constitute, stick with, stick to

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

21. surveil, follow, surveyverb

    keep under surveillance

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

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, appraise, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, go over, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, review, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

22. pursue, followverb

    follow in or as if in pursuit

    "The police car pursued the suspected attacker"; "Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life"

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, go after, espouse, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, quest after, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, follow up on, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, prosecute, watch, keep abreast, act on, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with, quest for, engage

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

23. followverb

    grasp the meaning

    "Can you follow her argument?"; "When he lectures, I cannot follow"

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

24. stick to, stick with, followverb

    keep to

    "Stick to your principles"; "stick to the diet"

    Synonyms:
    stick to, adopt, watch over, fall out, hold fast, stick with, keep an eye on, be, comply, adhere, come, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, watch, trace, surveil, stick, accompany, take after, bind, postdate, keep up, succeed, keep abreast, survey, espouse, pursue, conform to, bond

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Be
   • Check
   • Choose
   • Ensue
   • Imitate
   • Move
   • Music
   • Obey
   • Originate
   • Persevere
   • Play
   • Practice
   • Result
   • Travel
   • Understand

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. followverb

   Synonyms:
   come or go after or behind, go in the rear or in the wake of, tread in the steps of, tread on the heels of

2. followverb

   Synonyms:
   succeed, come next, tread close upon

3. followverb

   Synonyms:
   pursue, chase, run after, go after

4. followverb

   Synonyms:
   attend, accompany, go along with, keep company with

5. followverb

   Synonyms:
   obey, heed, observe, be guided by, conform to, yield to

6. followverb

   Synonyms:
   seek, cherish, cultivate, strive for

7. followverb

   Synonyms:
   practise, pursue, attend to, make the object of pursuit

8. followverb

   Synonyms:
   imitate, copy, pattern after, copy after, take as an example

9. followverb

   Synonyms:
   come or go after

10. followverb

    Synonyms:
    succeed, come next

11. followverb

    Synonyms:
    ensue, result, arise, proceed, flow, spring, issue

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. followverb

   Synonyms:
   succeed, chase, pursue, tag, dodge, result, proceed, flow, ensue, spring, issue, pursue, practice, engage in, trace, track, trail

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "follow":

   monitor, track, pursue, continue, follow-up, foilow, observe, monitoring, comply, take, tracking, obey, adhere, emulate, 'm, keep, followed, conform, attend, further

How to pronounce follow?

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use follow in a sentence?

1. Dean Ornish:

   But I believe that it's not one diet and lifestyle intervention for heart disease, another for diabetes or prostate cancer, and yet a different one for Alzheimer's. It's really the same for all these different conditions, to reverse the disease, you need to follow the interventions nearly 100%. If you're just trying to prevent disease, then the more you change, the more you improve. But what matters most is your overall way of eating, living and loving so that we can all die young as old as possible.

2. Pastor Williams:

   It was their choice to do that, we live in a free nation. People choose what they want. These people that got baptized – freely chose at a church service to accept Christ and this was a follow up to that.

3. Lindsey Graham:

   My advice would be to follow medical advice to contain the virus, if we can take some pressure off the economy, fine, but my primary focus is to make sure the virus is contained and defeated. And we're just going to have to suffer through the economic consequences.

4. Brian Johnson:

   You have lifelong patients who aren't going to follow your rules and they don't get better nor do they go away, at the end of the day, intravenous drugs are provided more readily than they were before.

5. Influential Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini:

   If they follow this path, it will be hard not to have protests.