follow
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.
To watch, listen to, or read about something so you know what happens.
To keep informed about something by watching, listening, or reading regularly.
To do what a rule, law, or person says you should do.
To act according to instructions, rules, or advice.
To come after something else happens or is done.
To happen after something else in time or sequence.
To understand what someone says or what is happening.
To grasp the meaning of something being said, explained, or happening.
- Base: follow
- 3rd Person Singular: follows
- Present Participle: following
- Past: followed
follow through (on)
1Finish what was planned/promised
To finish doing something you said you would do.
- You need to follow through on your promises.
- He started the project but never followed through.
follow your heart
1Choose based on feelings/desires
To decide what to do by thinking about what you really want, not just logic.
- He decided to follow his heart and become a musician.
- Follow your heart when choosing your career.
follow up
1Do more after first action/event
To do something more to finish what you started or check progress after an earlier action.
- 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
1Take same path as someone else
To do the same job or live like someone did before you, often a family member.
- 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
1Do as someone else did
To do the same thing that another person has just done.
- 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.