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Word Study
follow
CIDE DICTIONARY
follow, v. t. [OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian, fylgean, fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg, G. folgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw. följa, Dan. fölge, and perh. to E. folk.].
- To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend. [1913 Webster]" It waves me forth again; I'll follow it." [1913 Webster]
- To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue; to prosecute. [1913 Webster]" I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them." [1913 Webster]
- To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice. [1913 Webster]"Approve the best, and follow what I approve" [1913 Webster]"Follow peace with all men." [1913 Webster]" It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to others to follow their appetites." [1913 Webster]
- To copy after; to take as an example. [1913 Webster]" We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than in defects resemble them whom we love." [1913 Webster]
- To succeed in order of time, rank, or office. [1913 Webster]
- To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise. [1913 Webster]
- To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument. [1913 Webster]"He followed with his eyes the flitting shade." [1913 Webster]
- To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling. [1913 Webster]"O, had I but followed the arts!" [1913 Webster]"O Antony! I have followed thee to this." [1913 Webster]
Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain.
follow, v. i.
To go or come after; -- used in the various senses of the transitive verb: To pursue; to attend; to accompany; to be a result; to imitate.
follow, n.
The art or process of following; specif., in some games, as billiards, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it. Also used adjectively; as, follow shot. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
follow, v.
1 tr. or (foll. by after) intr. go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead).
2 tr. go along (a route, path, etc.).
3 tr. & intr. come after in order or time (Nero followed Claudius; dessert followed; my reasons are as follows).
4 tr. take as a guide or leader.
5 tr. conform to (follow your example).
6 tr. practise (a trade or profession).
7 tr. undertake (a course of study etc.).
8 tr. understand the meaning or tendency of (a speaker or argument).
9 tr. maintain awareness of the current state or progress of (events etc. in a particular sphere).
10 tr. (foll. by with) provide with a sequel or successor.
11 intr. happen after something else; ensue.
12 intr. a be necessarily true as a result of something else. b (foll. by from) be a result of.
13 tr. strive after; aim at; pursue (followed fame and fortune).
1 tr. or (foll. by after) intr. go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead).
2 tr. go along (a route, path, etc.).
3 tr. & intr. come after in order or time (Nero followed Claudius; dessert followed; my reasons are as follows).
4 tr. take as a guide or leader.
5 tr. conform to (follow your example).
6 tr. practise (a trade or profession).
7 tr. undertake (a course of study etc.).
8 tr. understand the meaning or tendency of (a speaker or argument).
9 tr. maintain awareness of the current state or progress of (events etc. in a particular sphere).
10 tr. (foll. by with) provide with a sequel or successor.
11 intr. happen after something else; ensue.
12 intr. a be necessarily true as a result of something else. b (foll. by from) be a result of.
13 tr. strive after; aim at; pursue (followed fame and fortune).
Idiom
follow-my-leader a game in which players must do as the leader does. follow one's nose trust to instinct. follow on
1 continue.
2 (of a cricket team) have to bat again immediately after the first innings. follow-on n. an instance of this. follow out carry out; adhere precisely to (instructions etc.).
follow suit
1 Cards play a card of the suit led.
2 conform to another person's actions.
follow through
1 continue (an action etc.) to its conclusion.
2 Sport continue the movement of a stroke after the ball has been struck. follow-through n. the action of following through. follow up (foll.
by with)
1 pursue, develop, supplement.
2 make further investigation of. follow-up n. a subsequent or continued action, measure, experience, etc.
1 continue.
2 (of a cricket team) have to bat again immediately after the first innings. follow-on n. an instance of this. follow out carry out; adhere precisely to (instructions etc.).
follow suit
1 Cards play a card of the suit led.
2 conform to another person's actions.
follow through
1 continue (an action etc.) to its conclusion.
2 Sport continue the movement of a stroke after the ball has been struck. follow-through n. the action of following through. follow up (foll.
by with)
1 pursue, develop, supplement.
2 make further investigation of. follow-up n. a subsequent or continued action, measure, experience, etc.
Etymology
OE folgian f. Gmc
THESAURUS
follow
abide by, absorb, accept, accept advice, accommodate, accommodate with, accompany, accord, act up to, adapt, adapt to, address, adhere to, adjust, adjust to, admire, adopt, afford proof of, agree with, align, angle for, ape, appear like, appreciate, apprehend, approach, approximate, arise, around, ascertain, ask for, assimilate, assimilate to, attend, attend to, augment, back, back up, be advised by, be consistent, be faithful to, be found wanting, be guided by, be inferior, be into, be like, be redolent of, be strong in, be vigilant, be watchful, be with one, bear resemblance, beat about for, beau, become of, bedog, believe in, bend, bolster, bring home to, bring to mind, buttress, c, call to mind, call up, carry on, carry out, catch, catch on, chase, check out, check up on, chime in with, chivy, cinch, cleave to, clinch, collimate, collineate, come about, come after, come behind, come close, come last, come near, come of, come on, come out, come short, compare with, comply, comply with, compose, comprehend, conceive, conclude, conduct, confine, conform, conform to, connect, connect with, consolidate, consummate, continue, convoy, copy, copy after, correct, correspond, counterfeit, court, cultivate, dangle, delve for, demonstrate, desire guidance, determine, develop, dig, dig for, digest, discharge, discipline, displace, do, do justice to, dog, echo, employ, emulate, end, engage in, ensue, ensure, equate, equidistance, escort, esquire, establish, eventuate, evoke, exercise, eye, eyeball, fail, fall astern, fall back, fall behind, fall in with, fall out, fall short, fare, fathom, favor, feature, fill, fish for, fit, fix, flow, follow a clue, follow advice, follow at heel, follow from, follow implicitly, follow like sheep, follow suit, follow the crowd, follow up, fulfill, gaze at, gear to, get, get hold of, get the drift, get the idea, get the picture, give chase, go after, go along with, go back, go backwards, go behind, go by, go gunning for, go in for, grasp, gun for, hang about, harmonize, have, have a case, have a looksee, have it taped, have nothing on, heed, heel, hold by, hold good, hold in view, hold water, hollo after, hound, hunt, hunt down, hunt for, hunt up, imitate, implore counsel, inherit, inquire, investigate, issue, join, keep, keep faith with, keep in sight, keep in view, keep under observation, keep up with, ken, know, lag behind, lay siege to, learn, limit, line up, link up, live up to, look, look after, look at, look for, look into, look like, look on, look up, look upon, major in, make after, make conform, make good, make out, make suit to, master, match, meet, mimic, mind, minor in, mirror, model after, mold, move behind, nail down, narrow, near, nearly reproduce, nose, nose out, not approach, not come near, not compare, not hack it, not make it, not measure up, not tell apart, obey, observe, pan out, parallel, parallelize, partake of, pattern after, pay attention to, pay court to, perform, persevere, persist, place parallel to, play second fiddle, postdate, practice, prosecute, prove, prove to be, prove true, prowl after, pursue, quest, quest after, raise the hunt, rank under, read, realign, realize, reconcile, reconnoiter, rectify, reflect, regard, regress, reinforce, remind one of, remove all doubt, replace, resemble, respect, restrict, result, retrogress, revert, root for, rub off corners, run after, run down, run to earth, satisfy, savor of, savvy, scout, search, search for, see, see through, see to, seek, seek for, seek out, seem like, seize, seize the meaning, sense, serenade, serve, set at rest, settle, settle the matter, shadow, shape, show, simulate, smack of, smell out, sniff out, solicit advice, sound like, spark, specialize, specialize in, spy upon, squire, stack up with, stalk, still-hunt, straighten, string along, subserve, succeed, sue, suggest, suit, supersede, supervene, supplant, support, swain, sweetheart, tackle, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tailgate, take, take advice, take after, take in, take on, take out after, take to, take up, tall, tally with, terminate, trace, trace down, track, track down, trail, trail after, trail behind, try to find, turn out, understand, undertake, unfold, use, view, wage, want, watch, woo, work at, work out, yieldROGET THESAURUS
follow
Pursuit
VB pursue, prosecute, follow, run after, make after, be after, hunt after, prowl after, shadow, carry on, engage in, set about, endeavor, court, seek, aim at, follow the trail, fish for, press on, run a race, chase, give chase, course, dog, hunt, hound, tread on the heels, follow on the heels of, rush upon, rush headlong, ride full tilt at, run full tilt at, make a leap at, jump at, snatch at run down, start game, tread a path, take a course, hold a course, shape one's steps, direct one's steps, bend one's steps, course, play a game, fight one's way, elbow one's way, follow up, take to, take up, go in for, ride one's hobby.Sequence
VB succeed, come after, come on, come next, follow, ensue, step into the shoes of, alternate, place after, suffix, append, follow, pursue, go after, fly after, attend, beset, dance attendance on, dog, tread in the steps of, tread close upon, be in the wake of, be in the trail of, be in the rear of, go in the wake of, go in the trail of, go in the rear of, follow in the wake of, follow in the trail of, follow in the rear of, follow as a shadow, hang on the skirts of, tread on the heels of, follow on the heels of, camp on the trail, succeed, come after, come on, come next, follow, ensue, step into the shoes of, alternate, place after, suffix, append, follow, pursue, go after, fly after, attend, beset, dance attendance on, dog, tread in the steps of, tread close upon, be in the wake of, be in the trail of, be in the rear of, go in the wake of, go in the trail of, go in the rear of, follow in the wake of, follow in the trail of, follow in the rear of, follow as a shadow, hang on the skirts of, tread on the heels of, follow on the heels of, camp on the trail.Demonstration
VB demonstrate, prove, establish, make good, show, evince, manifest, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, settle the question, reduce to demonstration, set the question at rest, make out, make out a case, prove one's point, have the best of the argument, draw a conclusion, follow, follow of course, follow as a matter of course, follow necessarily, stand to reason, hold good, hold water, convince, persuade (belief).Intelligibility
VB be intelligible, speak for itself, speak volumes, tell its own tale, lie on the surface, render intelligible, popularize, simplify, clear up, elucidate, understand, comprehend, take, take in, catch, grasp, follow, collect, master, make out, see with half an eye, see daylight, see one's way, enter into the ideas of, come to an understanding.Also see definition of "follow" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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