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follow

v.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈfɑɫoʊ// UK //fˈɒləʊ// fol·low General-service

v. to move behind someone or something that is going forward. You also use it to obey rules or pay attention to a story.

v. to move behind in the same direction; to comply with or act according to instructions or a sequence. Transitive in most senses, though it can function intransitively when the object is implied.


SIMPLE

Please follow me to the meeting room.

CONTEXTUAL

The tourists follow the guide through the narrow streets of the old city to reach the museum.

COMPLEX

While the junior researchers were encouraged to follow the established protocol, they were also expected to document any deviations that occurred during the experiment.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English folwen, folȝen, folgen, from Old English folgian (“to follow, pursue”), from Proto-West Germanic folgēn, from Proto-Germanic fulgāną (“to follow”).

Usage

The verb is usually transitive and takes a direct object. When used with social media, it refers to subscribing to a user's updates.

Pitfall

follow to the leaderfollow the leaderFollow is a transitive verb and does not require a preposition before the person or thing being followed.

Idioms6 entries

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