following 1 of 4

as in next
being the one that comes immediately after another the following morning, I found the cat was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

following

2 of 4

noun

1
as in entourage
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person a prince with a large following to do practically everything for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in audience
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) that rock star attracts quite a following

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

following

3 of 4

preposition

as in after
subsequent to in time or order following the concert, there will be refreshments in the lobby

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

following

4 of 4

verb

present participle of follow
1
as in succeeding
to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
6

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of following
Adjective
Leslee Gaul, president and CEO of the city’s promotional group Visit Oceanside, agreed, suggesting the city include $5 million next year and follow up with $4 million in each following year. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025 The snake catcher showed the python on a monitor in a following clip, while stuck in the sewage pipe. Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
Its revenues topped $10 billion last year. Costco, which is membership only, has developed a devoted following for its private label Kirkland Signature brand, which makes competing products of name-brand products, usually at a far lower price to customers. Alana Wise, NPR, 1 July 2025 The model found a big following with its Grok 2 release. Matt Kimball, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
What To Know For years following the Great Recession, the country built much fewer homes than needed. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 Swim in a direction following the shoreline. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for following
Recent Examples of Synonyms for following
Adjective
  • Technology helps, but without the right culture and processes, the shiniest dashboard will just become the next set of vanity metrics.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • After customers churned from Target, about half made their next purchase at Walmart and about 30% made their next three purchases at Walmart, the firm found.
    Melissa Repko, CNBC, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Furthermore, in the past few weeks, part of the Dutchman's entourage has made several contacts with the German team.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
  • And when Alcaraz pushed a forehand long to cede the fourth set, Fognini nodded toward his guest box, where a member of his entourage stood to snap a photo with a cellphone.
    Howard Fendrich, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • This inconsistency creates immediate distrust among your audiences.
    Danielle Sabrina, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Each holiday season, more than 40,000 English-speaking audience members attend the Globe’s Grinch musical.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • As the final major of 2025, The Open at Royal Portrush promises to deliver compelling storylines -- from McIlroy’s quest for home glory, to Scheffler’s pursuit of a links major and Schauffele’s bid for back-to-back titles -- at a beloved venue in front of the largest crowds outside of St Andrews.
    Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The guidelines, effective Feb. 1, came amid widespread criticism over the last few years that the NYPD routinely engaged in unnecessary pursuits that lead to crashes and injuries.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Preposition
  • The festival also reinserts a late-summer electronic festival back into the New York City festival schedule after the two-year absence of Electric Zoo, which previously took place on Randall’s Island, but which did not happen in 2024, and is not on the calendar for 2025 after major issues in 2023.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 July 2025
  • The mid-Atlantic region—covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland—is brimming with resorts our readers return to year after year.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • But battling isn’t the same as succeeding.
    Ben Standig, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • As job roles continue to shift, the professionals who can combine technical knowledge with creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability will be the ones driving change and succeeding in the future of work.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Nebraska is all in on pursuing Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen.
    Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic listed eight teams pursuing Santana and the Twins weren’t one of them, which isn’t shocking.
    Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • However, the property itself is a major draw: its 357 rooms (including 41 suites) epitomize the refined, sleek aesthetic for which the Langham brand is known, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Shanghai cityscape.
    John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
  • Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

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