follow
verb
Key Types & categories Parts & wholes Related & opposite
- Word type
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- Line style
- core relation
- instance, member or derived
- substance, domain or see-also
- Direction
- arrow points to the broader concept
- dashed outline: no word in this language
- Click any word to expand it.
Senses
Sense 1 verb
to travel behind, go after, come after
The ducklings followed their mother around the pond
Types & categories
Related & opposite
Sense 2 verb
be later in time
Tuesday always follows Monday
Related & opposite
- predate antonym
- come after verb group
Sense 3 verb
come as a logical consequence; follow logically
It follows that your assertion is false
Types & categories
- result hypernym
Sense 4 verb
travel along a certain course
follow the road
Types & categories
Sense 5 verb
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
He complied with my instructions
Types & categories
- obey hypernym
- oblige hyponym
- toe the line hyponym
- conform to hyponym
Related & opposite
- abidance derivation
- complaisance derivation
- compliant derivation
- stick with verb group
- adopt verb group
Sense 6 verb
come after in time, as a result
A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake
Types & categories
- result hypernym
Related & opposite
Sense 7 verb
behave in accordance or in agreement with
Follow a pattern
Types & categories
Sense 8 verb
be next
Mary plays best, with John and Sue following
Types & categories
- be hypernym
Related & opposite
- come after verb group
Sense 9 verb
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
She followed the feminist movement
Types & categories
Related & opposite
Sense 10 verb
to bring something about at a later time than
She followed dinner with a brandy
Related & opposite
- follow causes
Sense 11 verb
imitate in behavior; take as a model
Teenagers follow their friends in everything
Types & categories
- imitate hypernym
Sense 12 verb
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
Types & categories
- study hypernym
Related & opposite
- keep abreast verb group
- watch over verb group
Sense 13 verb
follow with the eyes or the mind
Keep an eye on the baby, please!
Types & categories
- check hypernym
- keep tabs on hyponym
- guard hyponym
- proctor hyponym
Related & opposite
- observance derivation
- watch derivation
- notice derivation
- observation derivation
- observation derivation
- perceiver derivation
- trace verb group
Sense 14 verb
be the successor (of)
Carter followed Ford
Types & categories
Related & opposite
- come before antonym
- succession derivation
- succession derivation
- successor derivation
- heir derivation
- successor derivation
- serial derivation
Sense 15 verb
perform an accompaniment to
The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
Types & categories
- play hypernym
Related & opposite
- musical accompaniment derivation
- accompanist derivation
- music domain topic
Sense 16 verb
keep informed
He kept up on his country's foreign policies
Related & opposite
- trace verb group
Sense 17 verb
to be the product or result
Melons come from a vine
Types & categories
- arise hypernym
Related & opposite
- come verb group
Sense 18 verb
accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
Let's follow our great helmsman!
Types & categories
- behave hypernym
Related & opposite
Sense 19 verb
adhere to or practice
These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion
Types & categories
- practice hypernym
Sense 20 verb
work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
He is a herpetologist
Types & categories
Sense 21 verb
keep under surveillance
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
Related & opposite
- pursue verb group
Sense 22 verb
follow in or as if in pursuit
The police car pursued the suspected attacker
Types & categories
Related & opposite
Sense 23 verb
grasp the meaning
Can you follow her argument?
Types & categories
- understand hypernym
Sense 24 verb
keep to
Stick to your principles
Types & categories
- persevere hypernym
Related & opposite
- abide by verb group
Table view of this graph
| Sense | Relation | Group | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | antonym | Related & opposite | precede |
| 1 | derivation | Related & opposite | pursuit |
| 1 | derivation | Related & opposite | follower |
| 1 | hypernym | Types & categories | move |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | lag |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | tailgate |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | shadow |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | carry |
| 2 | antonym | Related & opposite | predate |
| 2 | verb group | Related & opposite | come after |
| 3 | hypernym | Types & categories | result |
| 4 | hypernym | Types & categories | move |
| 4 | hyponym | Types & categories | heel |
| 4 | hyponym | Types & categories | ascend |
| 5 | derivation | Related & opposite | abidance |
| 5 | derivation | Related & opposite | complaisance |
| 5 | derivation | Related & opposite | compliant |
| 5 | verb group | Related & opposite | stick with |
| 5 | verb group | Related & opposite | adopt |
| 5 | hypernym | Types & categories | obey |
| 5 | hyponym | Types & categories | oblige |
| 5 | hyponym | Types & categories | toe the line |
| 5 | hyponym | Types & categories | conform to |
| 6 | verb group | Related & opposite | postdate |
| 6 | verb group | Related & opposite | follow |
| 6 | hypernym | Types & categories | result |
| 7 | hypernym | Types & categories | imitate |
| 7 | hyponym | Types & categories | go by |
| 8 | verb group | Related & opposite | come after |
| 8 | hypernym | Types & categories | be |
| 9 | derivation | Related & opposite | adoption |
| 9 | derivation | Related & opposite | following |
| 9 | verb group | Related & opposite | abide by |
| 9 | hypernym | Types & categories | choose |
| 9 | hyponym | Types & categories | adhere |
| 10 | causes | Related & opposite | follow |
| 11 | hypernym | Types & categories | imitate |
| 12 | verb group | Related & opposite | keep abreast |
| 12 | verb group | Related & opposite | watch over |
| 12 | hypernym | Types & categories | study |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | observance |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | watch |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | notice |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | observation |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | observation |
| 13 | derivation | Related & opposite | perceiver |
| 13 | verb group | Related & opposite | trace |
| 13 | hypernym | Types & categories | check |
| 13 | hyponym | Types & categories | keep tabs on |
| 13 | hyponym | Types & categories | guard |
| 13 | hyponym | Types & categories | proctor |
| 14 | antonym | Related & opposite | come before |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | succession |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | succession |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | successor |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | heir |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | successor |
| 14 | derivation | Related & opposite | serial |
| 14 | hyponym | Types & categories | accede |
| 14 | hyponym | Types & categories | supplant |
| 15 | derivation | Related & opposite | musical accompaniment |
| 15 | derivation | Related & opposite | accompanist |
| 15 | domain topic | Related & opposite | music |
| 15 | hypernym | Types & categories | play |
| 16 | verb group | Related & opposite | trace |
| 17 | verb group | Related & opposite | come |
| 17 | hypernym | Types & categories | arise |
| 18 | derivation | Related & opposite | following |
| 18 | derivation | Related & opposite | follower |
| 18 | hypernym | Types & categories | behave |
| 19 | hypernym | Types & categories | practice |
| 20 | hyponym | Types & categories | vet |
| 20 | hyponym | Types & categories | cox |
| 21 | verb group | Related & opposite | pursue |
| 22 | derivation | Related & opposite | pursuit |
| 22 | derivation | Related & opposite | follower |
| 22 | derivation | Related & opposite | chaser |
| 22 | verb group | Related & opposite | surveil |
| 22 | hypernym | Types & categories | move |
| 22 | hyponym | Types & categories | stalk |
| 22 | hyponym | Types & categories | chase |
| 22 | hyponym | Types & categories | haunt |
| 23 | hypernym | Types & categories | understand |
| 24 | verb group | Related & opposite | abide by |
| 24 | hypernym | Types & categories | persevere |