FOLLOWING Synonyms: 238 Similar and Opposite Words

following 1 of 4

adjective

ˈfä-lə-wiŋ

Definition of following

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

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

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

as in pursuit

the act of going after or in the tracks of another took part in the following of the coyote

Synonyms & Similar Words

following

3 of 4

preposition

as in after

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

following

4 of 4

verb

present participle of follow

as in succeeding

to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pursuing

to go after or on the track of let's follow the boys to their hiding place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obeying

to act according to the commands of follow me, and you'll do OK

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traversing

to make one's way through, across, or over followed the path into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in noting

to take notice of and be guided by don't follow his advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in watching

to keep one's eyes on stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

In a following slide, Lively called out Stoney Clover, which held a three-day pop-up event in New York City in celebration of the Knicks making it to the Finals. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Maintain a greater following distance in freeway traffic, slow down before intersections, be cautious on left turns, watch for pedestrians and cyclists before accelerating, avoid aggressive driving and respect higher rural speeds outside city centers. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Noun

Suri, the British electric toothbrush brand that has built a following around design and sustainability, recently landed in 500 Target stores across the United States. — Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The original series, created by Dan Curtis, aired weekdays on ABC from 1966 to 1971 and gained a devoted following. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

Preposition

New York City's LaGuardia Airport reopened Monday following Sunday night's runway crash. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026 Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

Verb

Buckhead Fireworks will light up the sky above Lenox Square on July 3, 2026 following a performance by DMC of Run DMC. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 July 2026 After seven memorable seasons with the Blue Jays, the two-time All-Star made his first trip back to Rogers Centre while wearing New York Mets colors following his blockbuster offseason departure. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for following

Recent Examples of Synonyms for following

Adjective

From the BoDo District’s Double Tap Pub to LIGA Boise on Capitol Boulevard, soccer fever was in the air as the United States won 2-0 to advance to the next round of the World Cup.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 2 July 2026
In the next 250 years, what books will get earn their place among the best literature America has to offer?

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of next

Noun

Gabriella paid off most of his entourage to leave him and the band alone and is now basically his own private Joe Jackson, pressuring him to record nonstop.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.

— Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

Definition of entourage

Noun

Those included a charmingly cluttered Bucket family home, a lush candyland with the smell of chocolate piped through the Royal Theater to complement the full-size mock chocolate river, and a glass elevator that flew above the audience.

— Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 July 2026
While the choreography was designed for a global TV audience, the underlying technology has broader industrial applications.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of audience

Noun

During the pursuit, police said Johnson turned toward the Guard members with his weapon.

— Lucas Finton, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Furthermore, current jobs, even if not ideal, can fund these personal pursuits, fostering a positive outlook that ultimately aids career progression.

— Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of pursuit

Preposition

Ryan Lasko, a 24-year-old outfielder in the Athletics system, was injured during a game with Double-A Midland RockHounds after diving to catch a ball while playing center field.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
The commission said there were four reports of consumers seeking medical treatment after swallowing the metal bristles, and customers were advised to stop using the products and request a replacement nylon grill brush.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of after

Verb

Its language about seeking opportunity rather than security, taking calculated risks, building, falling, succeeding, and refusing to trade dignity for dependence captured, almost perfectly, how my father thought about America.

— Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Buc-ee's is succeeding in getting customers to stay in its stores longer, something Dolly's and Wally's are trying to emulate.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Definition of succeeding

Verb

While future modeling gigs are up in the air, the brothers said that their priority is pursuing music.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Rather than pursuing one clear objective, Mars has the strength, energy and mental capacity to entertain several ideas, conversations and conflicts simultaneously when transiting this Air sign.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of pursuing

Browse Nearby Words

followership

following

followings

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Following.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/following. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of following

adjective

noun

preposition

verb

Example Sentences

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