# follower

/ˈfɑɫoʊɝ/ (US) · /fˈɒləʊɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/follower
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. social media subscriber

noun · CEFR A2

someone who chooses to see your posts and updates on a social media app.

For teachers: a user who subscribes to another account's feed on a digital platform to receive regular content updates.

- She was excited because she gained over a hundred new followers after her video went viral.
- The influencer's engagement rates remained high despite a slight dip in her total number of followers following the controversial post.

### 2. supporter of a leader or idea

noun · CEFR B1

a person who supports a leader, a religion, or a set of ideas.

For teachers: an adherent or devotee who accepts the teachings or leadership of another person or movement.

- The philosopher had many loyal followers who travelled long distances to hear him speak.
- The movement struggled to maintain its momentum once the core followers began to disagree on the interpretation of the original manifesto.

### 3. someone who follows behind

noun · CEFR B2

a person who physically walks or travels behind someone else.

For teachers: one who physically moves behind or pursues another person or entity.

- The king entered the hall with a long line of followers behind him.
- The detective noticed a persistent follower in the reflection of the shop window, confirming his suspicion that he was being watched.

### 4. mechanical part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a machine that is moved by another part.

For teachers: a mechanical component that receives motion from another part, such as a cam.

- The cam pushes the follower up and down to open the valve.
- Engineers must ensure the follower maintains constant contact with the cam profile to prevent mechanical vibration at high speeds.

## Examples

- She has many followers on her blog.
- The politician thanked her followers for their support during the campaign.
- In the age of social media, the relationship between an influencer and their followers is often transactional, built on engagement metrics rather than personal connection.

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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.