following 1 of 4

as in next
being the one that comes immediately after another the following morning, I found the cat was gone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

following

2 of 4

noun

1
as in entourage
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person a prince with a large following to do practically everything for him

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2
as in audience
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) that rock star attracts quite a following

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3

following

3 of 4

preposition

as in after
subsequent to in time or order following the concert, there will be refreshments in the lobby

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

following

4 of 4

verb

present participle of follow
1
as in succeeding
to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
6

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of following
Adjective
Leslee Gaul, president and CEO of the city’s promotional group Visit Oceanside, agreed, suggesting the city include $5 million next year and follow up with $4 million in each following year. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025 The snake catcher showed the python on a monitor in a following clip, while stuck in the sewage pipe. Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
Today, the application has a loyal following of millions of die-hard iPhone fans. Charles Singh, USA Today, 25 July 2025 From a leadership standpoint, Hogan exemplified how larger-than-life confidence can build a cult-like following but also how reputational risks can follow if the brand and the person aren’t aligned behind the scenes when the cameras are off. Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
What To Know For years following the Great Recession, the country built much fewer homes than needed. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 Swim in a direction following the shoreline. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
  • However, for the next two years, the state will be working with less money for summer school as the budget for 2025-27 allocated around $17.4 million for both years, which is around a $918,000 annual decrease from the 2023-25 budget.
    Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 29 July 2025
  • The next morning following the stabbing rampage was heavy for her.
    Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • The devil and his entourage visit Moscow, and Soviet Russia and generations of readers were never the same again.
    Vogue, Vogue, 29 July 2025
  • Waka Flocka Flame and his entourage got caught up in drama this past weekend in New York.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • The film shows that authenticity comes from both the creators and the audience.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 July 2025
  • Simone’s performance has resonated deeply with audiences, who celebrated the show’s casting and its refreshing break from Hollywood’s colorist patterns.
    Essence, Essence, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • Space was once a realm of cooperation, beyond commercial interests and military pursuits.
    Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
  • While this was all unfolding, United executives were accelerating their pursuit of goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Preposition
  • And Saturday, of course, is the one day of the week (in English) named after a Roman god.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Nikki returned to the ring in February for the first time in three years after her retirement and divorce from Artem Chigvintsev, following months of legal battles.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But battling isn’t the same as succeeding.
    Ben Standig, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • As job roles continue to shift, the professionals who can combine technical knowledge with creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability will be the ones driving change and succeeding in the future of work.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Nebraska is all in on pursuing Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen.
    Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • With such an unstable organization, this could dissuade Vrabel from pursuing a head-coaching gig with New York.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Jesse Jackson swept in with his retinue of bodyguards and embraced Dinkins, Lynch, and Harlem representative Charlie Rangel in a group hug, as the furniture inside the suite was hastily rearranged to make room for the TV cameras and spotlights.
    Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
  • With roots stretching back to the 1930s, Aramark has largely kept its business focused on food, beverage and retail support, rather than branching into other areas of venue management such as suite sales or stadium naming rights deals.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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