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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Cassie appeared with her baby bump in a following close-up shot as Fine’s hands cradled her stomach. Kayla Grant, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 Serena Williams and Meghan Markle's Friendship Timeline Lilibet appeared alongside Williams in a following post as the pair continued to play Candy Land while Meghan, dressed in a loose-fitting navy-blue top and pants, watched. Escher Walcott, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
Sports teams looking to boost their social followings just need to do one thing: sign LeBron James. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 June 2025 With travel and quarantine restrictions, many Chinese urbanites headed outside of cities, fuelling a rural tourism boom, while influencers like Li Ziqi drew large followings to their posts about the idyllic countryside. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 10 June 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
  • Additionally, the more fiscally conservative Senate is increasingly unhappy with the cost of the bill, which is estimated to add $3.1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Whatever it’s named, the next iOS will likely be released as a free update in September, around the same time as the next iPhone models if Apple follows its usual road map.
    Michael Liedtke, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • His manager and business partner T.J. and Moonie, his stylist, are there; so are Sheba and Lisa Hyper, two of his day-ones who were part of his entourage during our interview.
    Natalie Meade, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
  • For approximately 15 minutes, West, his entourage, and Combs' son were alone in the overflow room with four court officers.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • The target audience will be different on each platform, as people use platforms with different intentions.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Like other award ceremonies, BET has also endured its share of bumps and bruises in the ongoing tug of war between captivating audiences in a 24/7 media world and lower ratings.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Art environments are the typically fantastical creations of artists working outside of the mainstream who give over their entire homes and yards to their creative pursuits.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • And in Penelope’s pragmatic pursuit of a husband, Coughlan translates her character’s internal struggle.
    Abigail Lee, Variety, 6 June 2025
Preposition
  • The season was set to drop at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT, but a minute after its premiere time, Peacock announced there would be a slight delay.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 14 June 2025
  • Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the match, which finished 1-1, that Messi preferred to come off rather than see Scaloni take off young playmaker Thiago Almada.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 14 June 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
  • Any international observer should be able to understand Seoul’s reasoning for pursuing a nuclear option.
    Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The mission will carry a suite of instruments, the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE).
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • Stay Your Way: Family-Friendly Places to Unpack and Unwind Whether your crew prefers spacious resort suites, beachfront hotels with pools, or cozy vacation rentals with kitchens and room to spread out, Pompano Beach has plenty of family-friendly places to stay.
    Rita Wells, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

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