Dictionary monolingual
English

Following

ˈfɑloʊɪŋ
Extremely common
700 - 800
700 - 800
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Following -

Subsequent to or coming after something in time, order, or rank

Example: The following day, she received a promotion at work.
Usage: formalContext: written communication, academic papers, formal speeches
Note: Commonly used to indicate chronological or sequential order.

Supporting or being a fan of someone or something

Example: She has a large following on social media.
Usage: informalContext: social media, entertainment industry
Note: Often used to describe the number of people who are interested in or support a person, group, or idea.

A group of people who adhere to a particular leader, cause, or belief

Example: The political party gained a significant following in the recent election.
Usage: neutralContext: politics, social movements
Note: Can refer to a group of supporters or followers of a specific person, organization, or ideology.

Following's synonyms

subsequent

Subsequent means coming after something in time or order. It is often used to refer to events or actions that follow in sequence.
Example: The subsequent chapters of the book delve deeper into the protagonist's backstory.
Note: Subsequent emphasizes the order in which things occur, whereas 'following' can be more general.

succeeding

Succeeding means coming after or following in a series. It is commonly used to describe things that come next in a sequence.
Example: The succeeding generations continued the family tradition of farming.
Note: Succeeding specifically denotes the action of coming after something, while 'following' can have a broader meaning.

ensuing

Ensuin means happening as a result of a particular action or event. It is used to describe something that follows logically or naturally.
Example: The heated argument led to an ensuing debate among the team members.
Note: Ensuin emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between events, whereas 'following' is more general in nature.

sequential

Sequential means following a particular order or sequence. It is often used to describe things that are arranged in a logical progression.
Example: The sequential order of the steps in the experiment must be followed precisely.
Note: Sequential focuses on the orderly progression of events or items, while 'following' can refer to any kind of subsequent action.

Following expressions, common phrases

Following suit

To imitate or emulate someone else's actions or decisions.
Example: After seeing his success, many other companies followed suit and implemented the new strategy.
Note: This phrase adds the element of imitation or emulation to the word 'following.'

Following through

To complete a task or keep a promise until the end.
Example: It's important to not just make promises but also to follow through on them.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the completion or fulfillment of a task or promise.

Following your heart

To act according to one's feelings or desires, especially in making important decisions.
Example: She decided to follow her heart and pursue a career in art, despite her family's expectations.
Note: This phrase highlights the idea of making decisions based on emotions or desires rather than logic.

Following in someone's footsteps

To do the same thing as someone else, especially a family member or predecessor.
Example: As a third-generation doctor, he was following in his family's footsteps by choosing a career in medicine.
Note: This phrase implies a continuation of a legacy or tradition established by someone else.

Following the crowd

To conform or imitate the actions of a larger group of people.
Example: Instead of thinking for themselves, many people tend to just follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing.
Note: This phrase conveys the idea of blindly following others without independent thought or decision-making.

Following up

To contact someone again or take further action regarding a previous interaction or communication.
Example: After the initial meeting, the salesperson followed up with a phone call to answer any questions the client had.
Note: This phrase refers to the action taken after an initial contact or event to ensure continuity or progress.

Following the leader

To mimic or imitate the actions of a designated leader or guide.
Example: During the team-building exercise, the participants played a game of 'following the leader' to build trust and communication.
Note: This phrase involves actively copying the actions of a leader or authority figure in a specific context.

Following everyday (slang) expressions

Followers

Refers to people who support or are interested in someone or something, often used in the context of social media influencers or celebrities.
Example: She has a large following on social media.
Note: Followers specifically refers to individuals who track or subscribe to updates from a particular source, while 'following' is more general in meaning.

Fam

Short for 'family', used to refer to a close group of friends or a community.
Example: Are you going to the party tonight? Yeah, the whole fam is coming along.
Note: Fam is a more informal and slangy way of referring to a group of people who are like family, whereas 'following' has a broader context.

Stans

Derived from the song 'Stan' by Eminem, stans are overzealous fans who go to extremes to support their favorite artists or celebrities.
Example: Beyoncé's stans will defend her at all costs.
Note: Stans specifically refer to overly obsessed fans, while 'following' is a neutral term indicating interest or support.

Ride or die

Describes someone who is loyal and supportive in any situation, someone you can always depend on.
Example: She's my ride or die; we've been through everything together.
Note: 'Ride or die' implies an extremely strong and unwavering form of support compared to the more general meaning of 'following'.

Fanbase

Refers to a dedicated group of fans who actively support and follow a particular artist, band, or performer.
Example: Taylor Swift has a massive fanbase around the world.
Note: 'Fanbase' specifically denotes a group of fans, while 'following' can be used in broader contexts beyond fans and supporters.

Cult following

Describes a dedicated and passionate group of fans who are deeply committed to a niche interest or subculture.
Example: That indie film has a cult following among cinema enthusiasts.
Note: A 'cult following' denotes a specific type of dedicated fanbase, often associated with unconventional or alternative content, compared to the general usage of 'following'.

Fanatics

Refers to individuals who are extremely enthusiastic and devoted followers of a particular person, team, or cause.
Example: The team's fanatics painted their faces in team colors for the match.
Note: 'Fanatics' carries a stronger connotation of extreme devotion compared to the more neutral term 'following'.

Following - Examples

Following the instructions, I added the flour to the mixture.
She has a large following on social media.
The following day, we went to the beach.

Following grammar

Following - Verb (Verb) / Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle)
Lemma: follow
Conjugations
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): followed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): following
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): follows
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): follow
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): follow
Syllables, Separation and Stress
following Contains 3 syllables: fol • low • ing
Phonetic transcription: ˈfä-lə-wiŋ
fol low ing , ˈfä wiŋ (The red syllable is stressed)

Following - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
following: 700 - 800 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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