# follow sth up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/follow-sth-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to take further action after a first step, or to find out more about something you started.

For teachers: to pursue a matter further or take additional action after an initial encounter or investigation; often used in professional or medical contexts.

## Examples

- I will follow up your suggestion with a phone call tomorrow.
- The doctor asked me to follow up our appointment with a blood test next week.
- The investigative journalist decided to follow up the anonymous tip, eventually uncovering a significant financial scandal within the local government.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to follow up it." but "I need to follow it up." — when using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'with' to specify the next action taken.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'follow' (to go behind); 'follow up' implies completing a process or checking on progress after an initial event.

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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.