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
In a following video, Kardashian filmed some of her birthday balloons displaying photos of her face stuck on them in another birthday surprise. Escher Walcott, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024 Pelon's Food Truck has gained its following solely through word of mouth, Guthrie said. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
Nawfal's following grew by over 300,000 in one day — an over 50% increase in his follower count at the time. Huo Jingnan, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025 Committed to sustainable seafood and the community, the waterfront restaurant has a loyal local following, as well as beautiful views. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 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
  • After the remote vehicle first spotted the upright automobile while peering through the hangar deck from the Yorktown's port side, the crew sent it back the next day to get a better look.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Agence France-Presse reported last week that EU officials fear Orbán will not budge this time, which, given the unanimity required among members for accession, poses a significant problem for Kyiv, unless he can be defeated in next year's election by Magyar, who backs Ukraine's membership.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Things aren’t so fractious now, but generally players still like to keep their distance from one another, typically spending their time at tournaments with their entourages.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Throughout the video, fans can hear the back-and-forth between Bieber's entourage and photographers.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Through costume design, along with her brilliant acting, the audience gets to know who Emilia is at the core.
    Aleah Wright, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
  • But that also means that audiences seldom get the chance to catch their breath or take in any of the show's finer details.
    Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • During the pursuit, a state police cruiser was struck by the box truck.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
  • If the writing can get cute, there lies within it a palpable appreciation for people who dedicate themselves to a brutally challenging and relatively under-rewarded pursuit.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Preposition
  • This followed the Eagles' decision not to attend the White House in 2018 after winning the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The decision came after her father, an Israeli immigrant, died on Sept. 16, 2023, after complications from a surgery.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Apr. 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
  • The primary suite is large and comfortable, with a luxurious private bath and ample closet space.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Located in the center of downtown Apalachicola near all the shops, restaurants, galleries, and life, the inn’s five suites and studio apartment are the perfect place to set up home base.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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