Antonyms for follow
ˈfɒl oʊfol·low

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. followverb

   To go or come after in physical space.

   Follow that car!

   Antonyms:
   guide, lead

   Synonyms:
   trail, tail

2. followverb

   To go or come after in a sequence.

   B follows A in the alphabet.

   Antonyms:
   precede

   Synonyms:
   ensue, succeed

3. followverb

   To carry out in accordance to (orders, instructions, etc).

   Follow these instructions to the letter.

   Synonyms:
   pursue

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follow

   Anything that comes after or goes after another, either in space or in time, is said to follow it. A servant follows or attends his master; a victorious general may follow the retiring enemy merely to watch and hold him in check; he chases or pursues with intent to overtake and attack; the chase is closer and hotter than the pursuit. (Compare synonyms for HUNT.) One event may follow another either with or without special connection; if it ensues, there is some orderly connection; as, the ensuing year; if it results from another, there is some relation of effect, consequence, or inference. A clerk observes his employer's directions. A child obeys his parent's commands, follows or copies his example, imitates his speech and manners. The compositor follows copy; the incoming succeeds the outgoing official.

   Synonyms:
   accompany, attend, chase, come after, copy, ensue, go after, heed, imitate, obey, observe, practise, pursue, result, succeed

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follow

   Antonyms:
   avoid, elude, quit, disobey, precede, cause, produce, abandon, shun

   Synonyms:
   pursue, chase, accompany, obey, imitate, succeed, result, ensue, attend, shadow, observe, copy

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Be
   • Check
   • Choose
   • Ensue
   • Imitate
   • Move
   • Music
   • Obey
   • Originate
   • Persevere
   • Play
   • Practice
   • Result
   • Travel
   • Understand

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. followverb

   to travel behind, go after, come after

   "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"; "Please follow the guide through the museum"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

2. postdate, followverb

   be later in time

   "Tuesday always follows Monday"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

3. follow, fall outverb

   come as a logical consequence; follow logically

   "It follows that your assertion is false"; "the theorem falls out nicely"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   conform to, play along, espouse, watch, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, pass off, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, happen, go on, keep abreast, occur, pass, take place, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with, come out, hap, come about

4. follow, travel alongverb

   travel along a certain course

   "follow the road"; "follow the trail"

   Antonyms:
   precede, lead

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

5. comply, follow, abide byverb

   act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes

   "He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules"

   Antonyms:
   precede, lead

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, respect, honor, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, honour, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

6. follow, come afterverb

   come after in time, as a result

   "A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

7. follow, conform toverb

   behave in accordance or in agreement with

   "Follow a pattern"; "Follow my example"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   meet, fit, take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

8. followverb

   be next

   "Mary plays best, with John and Sue following"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

9. adopt, follow, espouseverb

   choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

   "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals"

   Antonyms:
   lead, precede

   Synonyms:
   conform to, take in, embrace, play along, espouse, acquire, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, sweep up, take, adopt, hook up with, borrow, comply, come after, assume, abide by, survey, take over, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, get hitched with, get married, wed, watch, keep abreast, marry, stick to, observe, surveil, conjoin, dramatise, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, take on, trace, stick with, dramatize, take up

10. followverb

    to bring something about at a later time than

    "She followed dinner with a brandy"; "He followed his lecture with a question and answer period"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

11. take after, followverb

    imitate in behavior; take as a model

    "Teenagers follow their friends in everything"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

12. trace, followverb

    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something

    "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, hunt, espouse, decipher, travel along, keep an eye on, hound, fall out, describe, adopt, survey, comply, come after, pursue, abide by, be, watch over, accompany, take after, keep up, watch, keep abreast, stick to, observe, surveil, line, succeed, draw, retrace, come, postdate, trace, stick with, delineate

13. watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye onverb

    follow with the eyes or the mind

    "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    conform to, detect, take in, play along, postdate, come, espouse, travel along, keep an eye on, watch out, fall out, find, view, adopt, notice, come after, comply, keep, pursue, abide by, determine, see, find out, look on, be, remark, keep abreast, celebrate, watch over, stick with, take note, honor, take after, keep up, survey, watch, look out, stick to, observe, surveil, honour, mention, succeed, respect, accompany, ascertain, catch, maintain, trace, learn, discover, note, check

14. succeed, come after, followverb

    be the successor (of)

    "Carter followed Ford"; "Will Charles succeed to the throne?"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    keep up, take after, adopt, watch over, comply, stick with, keep an eye on, deliver the goods, be, travel along, win, come, observe, play along, abide by, come after, watch, trace, surveil, accompany, fall out, postdate, bring home the bacon, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, come through, espouse, conform to, succeed

15. play along, accompany, followverb

    perform an accompaniment to

    "The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    conform to, company, play along, espouse, go along, travel along, keep an eye on, come with, fall out, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, companion, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, go with, watch, keep abreast, keep company, attach to, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with

16. keep up, keep abreast, followverb

    keep informed

    "He kept up on his country's foreign policies"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    take after, adopt, watch over, fall out, pursue, keep up, conserve, comply, watch, be, come, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, stick with, trace, surveil, accompany, sustain, maintain, postdate, succeed, keep abreast, stick to, survey, preserve, espouse, prolong, conform to, keep an eye on

17. come, followverb

    to be the product or result

    "Melons come from a vine"; "Understanding comes from experience"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    conform to, arrive, play along, descend, hail, espouse, get, travel along, keep an eye on, get along, fall out, fare, adopt, succeed, add up, come after, come in, abide by, survey, be, come up, watch over, fall, pursue, take after, keep up, do, observe, watch, keep abreast, occur, issue forth, make out, stick to, number, surveil, amount, derive, accompany, come, postdate, trace, total, stick with, comply

18. followverb

    accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of

    "Let's follow our great helmsman!"; "She followed a guru for years"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

19. followverb

    adhere to or practice

    "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

20. be, followverb

    work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

    "He is a herpetologist"; "She is our resident philosopher"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, embody, espouse, make up, travel along, keep up, personify, fall out, keep an eye on, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, be, live, cost, watch over, pursue, take after, equal, exist, watch, keep abreast, represent, comprise, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, constitute, stick with, stick to

21. surveil, follow, surveyverb

    keep under surveillance

    "The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, appraise, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, go over, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, review, conform to, keep an eye on

22. pursue, followverb

    follow in or as if in pursuit

    "The police car pursued the suspected attacker"; "Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    conform to, play along, go after, espouse, travel along, keep an eye on, fall out, quest after, adopt, survey, comply, come after, abide by, follow up on, be, watch over, pursue, take after, keep up, prosecute, watch, keep abreast, act on, stick to, observe, surveil, succeed, accompany, come, postdate, trace, stick with, quest for, engage

23. followverb

    grasp the meaning

    "Can you follow her argument?"; "When he lectures, I cannot follow"

    Antonyms:
    lead, precede

    Synonyms:
    take after, watch, watch over, fall out, stick with, keep up, be, comply, succeed, adopt, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, trace, surveil, accompany, come, postdate, pursue, keep abreast, stick to, survey, espouse, conform to, keep an eye on

24. stick to, stick with, followverb

    keep to

    "Stick to your principles"; "stick to the diet"

    Antonyms:
    precede, lead

    Synonyms:
    stick to, adopt, watch over, fall out, hold fast, stick with, keep an eye on, be, comply, adhere, come, observe, play along, abide by, travel along, come after, watch, trace, surveil, stick, accompany, take after, bind, postdate, keep up, succeed, keep abreast, survey, espouse, pursue, conform to, bond

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. followverb

   Synonyms:
   succeed, chase, pursue, tag, dodge, result, proceed, flow, ensue, spring, issue, pursue, practice, engage in, trace, track, trail

How to use follow in a sentence?

1. Zoe Saldana:

   By doing these films I'm always going to be surrounded by fans, and to me what fans represent are just true devoted human beings that choose to follow something because the message is so positive that it doesn't matter if it's real or not.

2. Dr. Joyce Brothers:

   Accept that all of us can be hurt, that all of us can - - and surely will at times -- fail. I think we should follow a simple rule: if we can take the worst, take the risk.

3. Lori Lightfoot:

   President Catanzara has time and again deliberately misled our police officers by lying about the requirements of the policy and falsely claiming that there will be no repercussions if officers are insubordinate and refuse to follow a City and Department directive or order, catanzara is encouraging an unlawful strike and work stoppage which carries the potential to undermine public safety and expose our residents to irreparable harm, particularly during an ongoing pandemic.

4. Kim Ryon Hui:

   Other defectors who were with me said if I go out and get caught they too will be handed over to China's Public Security and their life will be in jeopardy. Because I didn't have a passport, I had to follow them and I ended up in South Korea.

5. John Veilleux:

   This is a personnel matter and it is currently under investigation, we follow due process here. It is our university policy to not discuss personnel matters.

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