follow
gb/fˈɑloʊ/ us/fˈɑloʊ/
A2
English
~ 300
követ, valaki/valami után megy, figyelemmel kísér, nyomon követ, betart, megfogad, következik, ért
VERB
A2
1
követ
B1
Usage pattern:
to follow [someone/something]
The police car followed the suspect through the city.
A rendőrautó a városon át követte a gyanúsítottat.
She followed her friend into the building.
Követte a barátját az épületbe.
A dog followed us home from the park.
The hikers followed the trail to the lake.
Learner examples
I followed my mother to the shop.
Anyám után mentem a boltba.
The baby duck followed its mother.
A kiskacsa követte az anyját.
He followed me into the room.
We followed the bus to school.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'follow' with 'chase'. 'Chase' suggests speed and urgency, while 'follow' can be slow and calm.
Meaning
Go after someone or something
Collocations
follow closely
|follow behind
|follow the path
|follow the car
Synonyms
pursue (Implies going after someone or something with determination or purpose, often for a reason like capture or goal.)
Antonyms
lead (Means to be in front and guide, which is the opposite of going behind.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|movement
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go after someone or something and move in the same direction.
To go or come after a person or thing, moving in the same direction.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to follow [news/sports/story]
I follow several tech blogs to stay updated.
Több technológiai blogot követek, hogy naprakész maradjak.
She has been following the trial closely.
Szorosan nyomon követi a pert.
Many people follow football during the World Cup.
Learner examples
I follow the news every day.
Mindennap követem a híreket.
She follows her favorite singer on social media.
Követi a kedvenc énekesét a közösségi médiában.
We follow the weather report in winter.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'follow' here means physically going after someone. In this meaning, it is about paying attention over time.
Meaning
Pay attention to events
Collocations
follow the news
|follow a story
|follow politics
|follow a team
Synonyms
monitor (More formal; often used in professional or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not pay attention to something.)
Themes
media
|communication
|daily life
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To watch, listen to, or read about something so you know what happens.
To keep informed about something by watching, listening, or reading regularly.
VERB
A2
3
Usage pattern:
to follow [instructions/rules/advice]
Please follow the instructions on the package.
Kérjük, kövesse a csomagoláson található utasításokat.
He followed his teacher's advice and studied harder.
Megfogadta a tanára tanácsát, és szorgalmasabban tanult.
They always follow company policy.
Learner examples
I follow my teacher's advice.
Megfogadom a tanárom tanácsát.
We follow the rules in class.
Az órán betartjuk a szabályokat.
He follows the doctor's orders.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'follow' here with physically moving after someone. Here it means to act in agreement with instructions.
Meaning
Obey instructions or rules
Collocations
follow instructions
|follow rules
|follow advice
Synonyms
comply with (More formal; common in legal or official contexts.)
Antonyms
disobey (To not do what is ordered or advised.)
Themes
daily life
|education
|law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To do what a rule, law, or person says you should do.
To act according to instructions, rules, or advice.
VERB
A2
4
következik
A2
követ
B1
Usage pattern:
[event] follows [event]
The speech was followed by a question-and-answer session.
A beszéd után kérdezz-felelek következett.
Spring follows winter every year.
A tél után minden évben tavasz következik.
A long silence followed his remark.
Learner examples
Lunch follows morning classes.
Az ebéd a délelőtti órák után következik.
Night follows day.
A nappal után éjszaka következik.
The party will follow dinner.
Meaning
Come after in time/order
Collocations
immediately follow
|follow soon after
Synonyms
succeed (More formal; often used in written contexts about time order.)
Antonyms
precede (To come before something else in time or order.)
Themes
time
|events
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To come after something else happens or is done.
To happen after something else in time or sequence.
VERB
B1
5
Usage pattern:
to follow [an explanation/conversation]
I couldn't follow what he was saying because of the noise.
A zaj miatt nem tudtam követni, amit mondott.
She speaks so fast that it's hard to follow her story.
Olyan gyorsan beszél, hogy nehéz követni a történetét.
Do you follow my reasoning?
Learner examples
I can't follow your words.
Nem tudom követni, amit mondasz.
He speaks slowly so I can follow him.
Lassan beszél, hogy követni tudjam, amit mond.
Please speak clearly so I can follow you.
Common mistake:
'Follow' here does not mean to go after physically; it means mentally keeping up with what is said or done.
Meaning
Understand what is happening/said
Collocations
follow a conversation
|follow an argument
Synonyms
comprehend (Slightly more formal; focuses on mental grasp of meaning.)
Antonyms
misunderstand (To fail to understand correctly.)
Themes
communication
|learning
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To understand what someone says or what is happening.
To grasp the meaning of something being said, explained, or happening.
Grammar
Dictionary form
follow
IPA
GB/fˈɑloʊ/
US/fˈɑloʊ/
Syllables & stress
fol - low (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fol)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: follow
- 3rd Person Singular: follows
- Present Participle: following
- Past: followed
Word family
Forms
follows
verb
following
verb
followed
verb
Core family
follower
noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
unfollow
verb
Advanced or less common
followership
noun
Expressions
follow through (on)
1/fˈɑloʊ θɹˈu ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Finish what was planned/promised
To finish doing something you said you would do.
Examples
- You need to follow through on your promises.
- He started the project but never followed through.
follow your heart
1/fˈɑloʊ jˈʊɹ hˈɑɹt/
idiom
informal
Choose based on feelings/desires
To decide what to do by thinking about what you really want, not just logic.
Examples
- He decided to follow his heart and become a musician.
- Follow your heart when choosing your career.
follow up
1/fˈɑloʊ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Do more after first action/event
To do something more to finish what you started or check progress after an earlier action.
Examples
- She called to follow up on our meeting last week.
- The police will follow up on all leads.
- The doctor will follow up with you in two weeks.
- I sent an email and will follow up with a phone call.
follow in someone's footsteps
1/fˈɑloʊ ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈʊtstˌɛps/
idiom
Take same path as someone else
To do the same job or live like someone did before you, often a family member.
Examples
- She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher.
- She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer.
- He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in their heroes’ footsteps.
- Many young musicians try to follow in the footsteps of famous artists.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.
follow suit
1/fˈɑloʊ sˈut/
idiom
Do as someone else did
To do the same thing that another person has just done.
Examples
- When one store lowered prices, others quickly followed suit.
- When she left early, the rest of the staff followed suit.
- When one shop lowered its prices, the others soon followed suit.
- She started jogging, and her friends followed suit.
- Other companies followed suit and raised their prices.
- After she dyed her hair, her friends followed suit.