to walk or move behind someone or something, going in the same direction
The small boy followed his older sister into the classroom.
Please follow me; the office is this way.
✦ Old English folgian, fylgian “to accompany, move in the same direction,” of Germanic origin.
to do what someone tells you or to act according to rules, advice, or instructions
Always follow the safety rules in the lab.
She followed the doctor's advice and rested for a week.
to come or happen after something in time or order
Night follows day.
Winter follows autumn in the northern hemisphere.
to understand what someone is saying, explaining, or doing
Sorry, I don't follow—could you explain that again?
Do you follow what the teacher just said?
to go after someone or something in order to watch, catch, or monitor them
The hunter followed the deer tracks through the snow.
The police car followed the suspect down the highway.
on social media, to subscribe to someone’s account so you see their posts
If you follow the singer on Instagram, you'll see her tour photos.
Millions of fans follow him on social media.
an act of subscribing to someone’s social-media account
Give me a new follow if you like my content.
Her account reached a thousand follows in one day.
coming next or listed immediately after something
Please read the following instructions carefully.
We will meet on the following day.
present participle and gerund of follow
The children kept following the butterfly across the garden.
She glanced at the map before following the trail.
after something in time
Following the concert, the band signed autographs for fans.
The school reopened following the summer break.
a person who chooses to receive and see another user’s posts on social media
The singer thanked her million followers in a live video.
If you like travel photos, hit the button and become my follower.
✦ Sense arose in the early 2000s with the growth of social networking sites.
