# follow on

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/follow-on
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to happen next

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to happen or come immediately after something else in a sequence.

For teachers: to occur or proceed in a logical or chronological sequence immediately following a prior event.

- A short discussion will follow on from the main presentation.
- The second phase of the project will follow on from the initial research findings once the budget has been approved.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'from'.

### 2. cricket rule

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · British English

in cricket, when a team has to bat again immediately because their first score was too low.

For teachers: to be required to bat a second innings immediately after the first because of a significant deficit in runs.

- The visiting team was forced to follow on after a very poor first innings.
- The captain decided to enforce the follow on, hoping his bowlers could exploit the tiring batsmen and secure an early victory.

Usage: Intransitive in this sporting context.

### 3. a continuation or cricket term

noun · CEFR B2

something that continues from what happened before; also the name of the cricket rule.

For teachers: an instance of following on, particularly the requirement for a team to bat twice in succession in cricket.

- The new policy is a follow-on from last year's successful pilot program.
- After the home side failed to reach the required total, the umpire confirmed the follow-on would be enforced.

Usage: Usually hyphenated as 'follow-on' when used as a noun.

## Examples

- A short discussion will follow on after the presentation.
- The second chapter follows on from the ideas we discussed in the introduction.
- The subsequent investigation followed on from the initial report, revealing a systemic failure within the organization's safety protocols.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with the simple verb 'follow'; 'follow on' emphasizes the connection or continuity between the two events rather than just the order.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.