Follow

[fol-oh] /ˈfɒl oʊ/

verb (used with object)
1.
to come after in sequence, order of time, etc.:
The speech follows the dinner.
2.
to go or come after; move behind in the same direction:
Drive ahead, and I’ll follow you.
3.
to accept as a guide or leader; accept the authority of or give allegiance to:
Many Germans followed Hitler.
4.
to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey:
to follow orders; to follow advice.
5.
to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar:
They follow the latest fads.
6.
to move forward along (a road, path, etc.):
Follow this road for a mile.
7.
to come after as a result or consequence; result from:
Reprisals often follow victory.
8.
to go after or along with (a person) as companion.
9.
to go in pursuit of:
to follow an enemy.
10.
to try for or attain to:
to follow an ideal.
11.
to engage in or be concerned with as a pursuit:
He followed the sea as his true calling.
12.
to watch the movements, progress, or course of:
to follow a bird in flight.
13.
to watch the development of or keep up with:
to follow the news.
14.
to keep up with and understand (an argument, story, etc.):
Do you follow me?
verb (used without object)
15.
to come next after something else in sequence, order of time, etc.
16.
to happen or occur after something else; come next as an event:
After the defeat great disorder followed.
17.
to attend or serve.
18.
to go or come after a person or thing in motion.
19.
to result as an effect; occur as a consequence:
It follows then that he must be innocent.
noun
20.
the act of following.
21.
Billiards, Pool. (def 2).
22.
(def 3).
Verb phrases
23.
follow out, to carry to a conclusion; execute:
They followed out their orders to the letter.
24.
follow through,

25.
follow up,

Idioms
26.
follow suit. (def 21).
/ˈfɒləʊ/
verb
1.
to go or come after in the same direction: he followed his friend home
2.
(transitive) to accompany; attend: she followed her sister everywhere
3.
to come after as a logical or natural consequence
4.
(transitive) to keep to the course or track of: she followed the towpath
5.
(transitive) to act in accordance with; obey: to follow instructions
6.
(transitive) to accept the ideas or beliefs of (a previous authority, etc): he followed Donne in most of his teachings
7.
to understand (an explanation, argument, etc): the lesson was difficult to follow
8.
to watch closely or continuously: she followed his progress carefully
9.
(transitive) to have a keen interest in: to follow athletics
10.
(transitive) to help in the cause of or accept the leadership of: the men who followed Napoleon
11.
(transitive) to choose to receive messages posted by (a blogger or microblogger): I’ve been following her online
12.
(transitive) (rare) to earn a living at or in: to follow the Navy
13.
(cards) follow suit

noun
14.
(billiards, snooker)

v.

Old English folgian, fylgan “follow, accompany; follow after, pursue,” also “obey, apply oneself to a practice or calling,” from West Germanic *fulg- (cf. Old Saxon folgon, Old Frisian folgia, Middle Dutch volghen, Dutch volgen, Old High German folgen, German folgen, Old Norse fylgja “to follow”).

Probably originally a compound, *full-gan with a sense of “full-going;” the sense then shifting to “serve, go with as an attendant” (cf. fulfill). Related: Followed; following. To follow one’s nose “go straight on” first attested 1590s. “The full phrase is, ‘Follow your nose, and you are sure to go straight.’ ” [Farmer].