From Middle English folwen, folȝen, folgen, from Old English folgian (“to follow, pursue”), from Proto-West Germanic *folgēn, from Proto-Germanic *fulgāną (“to follow”).
Meanings
(attributive, sometimes) In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.
a follow shot
(qualifier:social media) The act of following another user's online activity.
It doesn't take too many follows to become overwhelmed with the deluge of content on Twitter. 2012, Brett Petersel, Esther Schindler, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Twitter Marketing:
Social media is supervisual, and there's nothing more shareable than images, so this is a way to increase shares and likes and follows. 2016, Brooke Warner, Green-Light Your Book:
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Translations (5)
ru подпи́ска (the act of following another user's online activity) · ru фолло́винг (the act of following another user's online activity) · ja フォロー (the act of following another user's online activity) · ko 팔로우 (the act of following another user's online activity) · bg сле́дване (the act of following another user's online activity)
From Middle English folwen, folȝen, folgen, from Old English folgian (“to follow, pursue”), from Proto-West Germanic *folgēn, from Proto-Germanic *fulgāną (“to follow”).
Meanings
(ambitransitive) To go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction, especially with the intent of catching.
Follow that car!
I will follow him / Follow him, wherever he may go / There isn't an ocean too deep / A mountain so high it can keep me away 1963, “I Will Follow Him”, Norman Gimbel (lyrics), Franck Pourcel (music), performed by Peggy March:
Ambassador Udina: The other species are scared. They've never faced anything like this before and they don't know what to do. They want us to step forward. They believe in humanity because of you.
Ambassador Udina: Your ruthless pursuit of Saren and the geth, your defiance of the Council -- that's what humans are capable of! That's how we can defeat the Reapers!
Ambassador Udina: The others will follow us, Shepard. They know we're their only hope. We will have a human Council with a human Chairman. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
She left the room and I followed.
(ambitransitive) To go or come after in a sequence.
B follows A in the alphabet.
We both ordered the soup, with roast beef to follow.
Where a pon thys for sayd men dyd sett yᵉ prysse under yᵉ maner as here after follyzth: & Thomas Borrage yᵗ was tuthyng man at yᵉ tyme for iak Tymwell dyd gether yˢ mony yᵗ follyth & brosth hyt to yˢ for said men by causse yᵗ they schuld se every man content after their conssyens 1532 June 23, Sir Christopher Trychay, quoting Will[ia]m Scely, The cownte of Willm Scely beyng Wardyng of yᵉ almys, Morebath; republished in R. Erskine Binney, B.A., compiler, The Accounts of the Wardens of the Parish of Morebath, Devon, 1520-1573, Exeter: James G. Commin, 1904, page 39:
(transitive) To carry out (orders, instructions, etc.).
Follow these instructions to the letter.
The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on a certain afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track.[…]Their example was followed by others at a time when the master of Mohair was superintending in person the docking of some two-year-olds, and equally invisible. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, pages 58–59:
(transitive) To live one's life according to (religion, teachings, etc).
(transitive) To understand, to pay attention to.
Do you follow me?
(transitive) To watch, to keep track of (reports of) some event or person.
I followed the incumbent throughout the election.
My friends don't regularly follow the news.
(transitive) To be a supporter of (a sports team).
"Sometimes I wonder what you do take any notice of—except the whistle and short skirts," speculated his superior. "But no doubt ideas are germinating."
"I follow Chelsea," maintained Horace. 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
(qualifier:social media, transitive) To subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform.
If you want to see more of our articles, follow us on Twitter.
(ambitransitive) To be a logical consequence of something.
It follows that if two numbers are not equal then one is larger than the other.
If you don't practise proper hygiene, illness is sure to follow.
(transitive) To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling.
O had I but followed the Arts. c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 256, column 2:
ar اِتَّبَعَ (to live one’s life according to) · lad segyir (to go or come after in physical space) · fy folgje (to go or come after in physical space) · ro urma (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh слије́дити (to carry out in accordance to) · ro rezulta (to be a logical consequence of) · ja フォローする (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · cy dilyn (to go or come after in physical space) · hi पीछा करना (to go or come after in physical space) · sw kufuata (to go or come after in physical space) · arz فولو (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · ru понима́ть (to understand) · lv sekot (to go or come after in physical space) · frr fülie (to go or come after in physical space) · pt seguir (to live one’s life according to) · io sequar (to go or come after in physical space) · fi seurata (to keep track of) · mi whakaū (to carry out in accordance to) · hu követ (to understand) · sco follae (to go or come after in a sequence) · fa دنبال کردن (to keep track of) · fa تبعیت کردن (to be a logical consequence of) · hu követ (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · hy հետևել (to go or come after in physical space) · kkh ᨩᩬᨾ (to go or come after in physical space) · nl volgen (to live one’s life according to) · uk підписатися (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · se čuovvut (to go or come after in physical space) · ktu kulanda (to go or come after in physical space) · fi seurata (to go or come after in physical space) · yi נאָכגיין (to go or come after in physical space) · sh prȁtiti (to understand) · fr suivre (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · hu követ (to go or come after in physical space) · fr suivre (to keep track of) · gd lean (to go or come after in a sequence) · sv följa (to go or come after in a sequence) · blt ꪕ꪿ꪮꪥ (to go or come after in physical space) · et jälitama (to go or come after in physical space) · be сачы́ць (to keep track of) · fa طبق چیزی عمل کردن (to carry out in accordance to) · km តាម (to go or come after in physical space) · sco follae (to keep track of) · fi pysyä kärryillä (to understand) · cy olhau (to go or come after in physical space) · arz تبجى ورا (to go or come after in a sequence) · de folgen (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · da følge (to carry out in accordance to) · et järgnema (to go or come after in a sequence) · mi aruaru (to go or come after in physical space) · vi theo (to go or come after in physical space) · arz يمشى ورا (to go or come after in physical space) · gl seguir (to go or come after in physical space) · bg следвам (to be a logical consequence of) · hu következik (to be a logical consequence of) · fr suivre (to go or come after in a sequence) · shn ၸွမ်း (to go or come after in physical space) · mi whaiwhai pīhau (to go or come after in physical space) · fi seurata (to be a logical consequence of) · ta பின்தொடர் (to carry out in accordance to) · bg съблюдавам (to carry out in accordance to) · is fylgja (to go or come after in physical space) · ca seguir (to live one’s life according to) · alt истеер (to go or come after in physical space) · ar تَابَعَ (to keep track of) · bg следвам (to go or come after in a sequence) · grc ἀκολουθέω (to live one’s life according to) · es seguir (to go or come after in physical space) · lo ນຳ (to go or come after in physical space) · ta பின்தொடர் (to live one’s life according to) · ln landa (to go or come after in physical space) · az izləmək (to keep track of) · fa پیروی کردن (to live one’s life according to) · el επακολουθώ (to be a logical consequence of) · nl volgen (to be a logical consequence of) · ml പിന്തുടരുക (to carry out in accordance to) · ja 従う (to go or come after in physical space) · mhn volng (to go or come after in physical space) · th ติดตาม (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · ml പിന്തുടരുക (to live one’s life according to) · sl slediti (to go or come after in a sequence) · sv följa (to live one’s life according to) · no følge (to go or come after in physical space) · de folgen (to carry out in accordance to) · fi noudattaa (to live one’s life according to) · my လိုက် (to go or come after in physical space) · sv fatta (to understand) · ta தொடர் (to go or come after in a sequence) · ml പിന്തുടരുക (to go or come after in a sequence) · de followen (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · he עקב (to go or come after in physical space) · ca seguir (to be a logical consequence of) · mi whakaekeeke (to go or come after in a sequence) · arz تتابع (to keep track of) · arz تمشى ورا (to go or come after in physical space) · fi pysyä mukana (to understand) · ta பின்பற்று (to live one’s life according to) · bg следя́ (to go or come after in physical space) · cy canlyn (to go or come after in physical space) · te పాటించు (to carry out in accordance to) · th ติดตาม (to keep track of) · fr découler (to be a logical consequence of) · ca seguir (to go or come after in a sequence) · pt seguir (to be a logical consequence of) · ro reieși (to be a logical consequence of) · tet tuir (to go or come after in physical space) · nl volgen (to go or come after in physical space) · arz يتابع (to go or come after in physical space) · ru сле́довать (to go or come after in physical space) · fi noudattaa (to carry out in accordance to) · arz مشى على طريقة (to carry out in accordance to) · fa دنبال کردن (to go or come after in physical space) · cho acha̱ka (to go or come after in a sequence) · da efterfølge (to go or come after in a sequence) · uk дотри́муватися (to live one’s life according to) · cmn 接連 /接连 (to go or come after in a sequence) · grc ἀκολουθέω (to carry out in accordance to) · gsw folge (to go or come after in physical space) · ang folgian (to go or come after in physical space) · sv följa (to go or come after in physical space) · cs vyplývat (to be a logical consequence of) · ceb sunod (to go or come after in physical space) · sh пра̏тити (to understand) · ast siguir (to go or come after in physical space) · ur پیچھا کرنا (to go or come after in physical space) · osx folgoian (to go or come after in physical space) · vi theo dõi (to keep track of) · la sequor (to be a logical consequence of) · de folgen (to be a logical consequence of) · ta பின்தொடர் (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · uk слі́дувати (to go or come after in a sequence) · cmn 接續 /接续 (to go or come after in a sequence) · uk слідкува́ти (to keep track of) · de verschreiben (to live one’s life according to) · arz تتابع (to go or come after in physical space) · pt acompanhar (to keep track of) · ro urmări (to go or come after in physical space) · arz يتابع (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · eu jarraitu (to go or come after in physical space) · uk дотри́муватися (to carry out in accordance to) · ta பின்தொடர் (to go or come after in physical space) · et aru saama (to understand) · sv förstå (to understand) · sh slijéditi (to go or come after in physical space) · ru подписа́ться (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · gld дахаори (to go or come after in physical space) · arz يعمل فولو (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · acw لِحِق (to go or come after in physical space) · fi tarkkailla (to keep track of) · tl sundan (to keep track of) · ro urmări (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · ar تَتَبَّعَ (to keep track of) · pl śledzić (to keep track of) · lo ທວຍ (to go or come after in physical space) · arz مشت على طريقة (to carry out in accordance to) · pl nadążać (to understand) · tr izlemek (to go or come after in physical space) · pt captar (to understand) · grc ἀκολουθέω (to go or come after in physical space) · cs řídit se (to carry out in accordance to) · mi me te aha (to be a logical consequence of) · osx folgon (to go or come after in physical space) · lo ຊອມ (to go or come after in physical space) · sh слије́дити (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh pratiti (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · hil ábat (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh слије́дити (to live one’s life according to) · cs vyplynout (to be a logical consequence of) · pt seguir (to carry out in accordance to) · es seguir (to carry out in accordance to) · bg следя́ (to keep track of) · hil ábat (to go or come after in physical space) · om hordofuu (to go or come after in physical space) · grc ἕπομαι (to go or come after in physical space) · it seguire (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · wa shuve (to go or come after in physical space) · sv följa (to be a logical consequence of) · ru подпи́сываться (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · ca seguir (to go or come after in physical space) · el επακολουθώ (to go or come after in a sequence) · da følge (to go or come after in a sequence) · ru соблюда́ть (to live one’s life according to) · ro urma (to be a logical consequence of) · ar اِتَّبَعَ (to carry out in accordance to) · ro urma (to live one’s life according to) · eo sekvi (to go or come after in physical space) · hu követ (to keep track of) · tl sundin (to carry out in accordance to) · aho 𑜋𑜨𑜪 (to go or come after in physical space) · ru сле́довать (to go or come after in a sequence) · ru сле́довать (to live one’s life according to) · lt sekti (to go or come after in physical space) · bg сле́двам (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · cs následovat (to go or come after in a sequence) · mi aruaru (to go or come after in a sequence) · hu kísér (to go or come after in physical space) · cs dodržet (to carry out in accordance to) · th ทยอย (to go or come after in physical space) · sh slijéditi (to live one’s life according to) · arz يتبع (to go or come after in a sequence) · mi nā konei (to be a logical consequence of) · ko 팔로우하다 (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · tr takip etmek (to go or come after in physical space) · qu gatii (to go or come after in physical space) · ru сле́довать (to be a logical consequence of) · ka მიყოლა (to go or come after in physical space) · ca seguir (to carry out in accordance to) · fr suivre (to live one’s life according to) · ar تَابَعَ (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · ru приде́рживаться (to carry out in accordance to) · arz يبجى ورا (to go or come after in a sequence) · mi nā konā (to be a logical consequence of) · cmn 遵循 (to carry out in accordance to) · fr s'abonner (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · fr suivre (to understand) · uk сліди́ти (to go or come after in physical space) · nl volgen (to understand) · sh слије́дити (to be a logical consequence of) · ro urmări (to keep track of) · de folgen (to understand) · non fylgja (to go or come after in physical space) · tl sumunod (to go or come after in a sequence) · hu követ (to live one’s life according to) · yue 跟埋 (to go or come after in physical space) · hu követ (to carry out in accordance to) · tdd ᥓᥩᥛᥰ (to go or come after in physical space) · ltg saksteit (to go or come after in physical space) · ovd fya (to go or come after in physical space) · ja 相次ぐ (to go or come after in a sequence) · pt seguir (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · vi làm theo (to carry out in accordance to) · pl pójść za (to go or come after in physical space) · vi kéo theo (to be a logical consequence of) · nrf siéthe (to go or come after in physical space) · ru фолло́вить (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · te అనుసరించు (to carry out in accordance to) · ml പിന്തുടരുക (to go or come after in physical space) · mfe swiv (to go or come after in physical space) · lb follegen (to go or come after in physical space) · cmn 是...的必然结果 (to be a logical consequence of) · cs sledovat (to go or come after in physical space) · sl slediti (to go or come after in physical space) · sh slijéditi (to be a logical consequence of) · cmn 隨 /随 (to go or come after in physical space) · mi nō reira (to be a logical consequence of) · th ตาม (to go or come after in physical space) · de folgen (to live one’s life according to) · ja 追う (to go or come after in physical space) · km ត (to go or come after in a sequence) · lv sekot (to keep track of) · arz يتابع (to keep track of) · fa متابعت کردن (to be a logical consequence of) · et järgima (to carry out in accordance to) · it seguire (to go or come after in physical space) · pl wynikać (to be a logical consequence of) · uk слі́дувати (to go or come after in physical space) · so raacid (to go or come after in physical space) · nl volgen (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · el ακολουθώ (to carry out in accordance to) · ar تَبِعَ (to go or come after in physical space) · ar اِتَّبَعَ (to go or come after in physical space) · fo fylgja (to go or come after in physical space) · ka გაყოლა (to go or come after in physical space) · sco follae (to go or come after in physical space) · ro urma (to go or come after in physical space) · cmn 关注 (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · sl slediti (to carry out in accordance to) · oc seguir (to carry out in accordance to) · ta தொடர் (to go or come after in physical space) · pl wykonać (to carry out in accordance to) · gd lean (to understand) · sv följa (to carry out in accordance to) · oc seguir (to go or come after in a sequence) · fr se plier à (to live one’s life according to) · hu követ (to go or come after in a sequence) · fa پیروی کردن (to be a logical consequence of) · et tulenema (to be a logical consequence of) · de befolgen (to live one’s life according to) · fa بعد از چیزی آمدن (to go or come after in a sequence) · qu qatiy (to go or come after in physical space) · gd lean (to go or come after in physical space) · mn дагах мөрдөх (to go or come after in physical space) · arz تتبع (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh slijéditi (to carry out in accordance to) · khb ᦎᦱᧄ (to go or come after in physical space) · grc ἕπομαι (to carry out in accordance to) · arz تتابع (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · lv sekot (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh prȁtiti (to go or come after in physical space) · lv sekot (to be a logical consequence of) · ro urma (to carry out in accordance to) · lo ຕາມ (to go or come after in physical space) · ca seguir (to understand) · km តាម (to carry out in accordance to) · got 𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to go or come after in physical space) · pt seguir (to go or come after in physical space) · sh слије́дити (to go or come after in physical space) · te వెంబడించు (to go or come after in physical space) · sl slediti (to understand) · ar خَلَفَ (to go or come after in a sequence) · mi whai (to go or come after in physical space) · ar تَلَا (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh пратити (to keep track of) · es seguir (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh запратити (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · et järgima (to live one’s life according to) · fa حواس کسی به چیزی بودن (to understand) · tl subaybayan (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · rm suandar (to go or come after in physical space) · vi theo sau (to go or come after in a sequence) · sh pratiti (to keep track of) · ru блюсти́ (to live one’s life according to) · pl iść za (to go or come after in physical space) · fi seurata (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · da følge (to go or come after in physical space) · vi theo dõi (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · fr suivre (to go or come after in physical space) · gd lean (to be a logical consequence of) · pl wyznawać (to live one’s life according to) · ktu landa (to go or come after in physical space) · chr ᎠᏍᏓᏩᏕᎦ (to go or come after in physical space) · egy Sms-s-D54 (to go or come after in physical space) · pt seguir (to go or come after in a sequence) · de folgen (to go or come after in a sequence) · khb ᦑᦽ (to go or come after in physical space) · pl następować (to go or come after in a sequence) · el ακολουθώ (to go or come after in physical space) · la sequor (to go or come after in physical space) · sq ndjek (to go or come after in physical space) · cmn 跟隨 /跟随 (to go or come after in physical space) · fi seurata (to go or come after in a sequence) · sv hänga med (to understand) · lo ຕວຍ (to go or come after in physical space) · grc ἕπομαι (to be a logical consequence of) · kix théu (to go or come after in physical space) · lad סואִיב׳אר (to go or come after in physical space) · uk сте́жити (to keep track of) · arz تعمل فولو (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · bg следя́ (to understand) · ko 따르다 (to go or come after in physical space) · sv haja (to understand) · vi đi theo (to go or come after in physical space) · ru соблюда́ть (to carry out in accordance to) · cs plynout (to be a logical consequence of) · yue 跟 (to go or come after in physical space) · bg следвам (to go or come after in physical space) · sh пра̏тити (to go or come after in physical space) · oc seguir (to go or come after in physical space) · ta பின்பற்று (to carry out in accordance to) · de folgen (to go or come after in physical space) · khb ᦋᦸᧄ (to go or come after in physical space) · ru следи́ть (to go or come after in physical space) · lad סיגּיִיר (to go or come after in physical space) · sh slijéditi (to go or come after in a sequence) · bg сле́двам (to live one’s life according to) · bg следвам (to carry out in accordance to) · sh zapratiti (to subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform) · pl śledzić (to go or come after in physical space) · ru следи́ть (to keep track of) · mi nō konā (to be a logical consequence of)