following

adjective
UK: /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/
US: /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

  1. Coming or happening after something else in time or order.

    1. The following week, they went to the beach. [ ] [ ]
    2. The following discussion clarified several important points regarding the project's future. [ ] [ ]

  2. Going in the same direction as, or behind, someone or something.

    1. He was following me. [ ] [ ]
    2. The dog is following its owner through the busy city park. [ ] [ ]

  3. In accordance with; in agreement with.

    1. Following your instructions, I completed the task. [ ] [ ]
    2. Following the rules established by the committee, the proposals were submitted for review. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

retinue subsequent next
following verb

  1. Moving behind someone or something; going in the same direction.

    1. The cat is following the mouse. [ ] [ ]
    2. Are you following the path we discussed towards the summit? [ ] [ ]

  2. To understand or pay attention to something.

    1. I'm not following you. [ ] [ ]
    2. The students struggled while following the complex mathematical proof during the lecture. [ ] [ ]

  3. To obey or act in accordance with a rule, instruction, or law.

    1. You must follow the rules. [ ] [ ]
    2. All participants are following the guidelines to ensure fairness in the competition. [ ] [ ]

  4. To come after something in time or order.

    1. Spring follows winter. [ ] [ ]
    2. A period of intense study is following the initial introductory lectures. [ ] [ ]

  5. To support or be interested in a person or group.

    1. I follow him on social media. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many people are following the politician because of their stance on environmental issues. [ ] [ ]
following noun

  1. A group of people who support or admire someone.

    1. The band has a large following. [ ] [ ]
    2. The guru attracted a large following due to his teachings about compassion and mindfulness. [ ] [ ]

  2. The act of following.

    1. His following was stealthy. [ ] [ ]
    2. The detective's careful following of the suspect provided crucial evidence for the case. [ ] [ ]
following preposition

  1. As a result of; after.

    1. Following the rain, the sun came out. [ ] [ ]
    2. Following a detailed investigation, the company implemented stricter safety protocols. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "following" in English means: Coming or happening after something else in time or order., Going in the same direction as, or behind, someone or something., In accordance with; in agreement with..

The phonetic transcription of "following" is /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/ in British English and /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "following": retinue, subsequent, next.

Example usage of "following": "The following week, they went to the beach.". More examples on the page.