# following

Pronunciation: say "FOL-oh-ing" US /ˈfɑloʊɪŋ/, UK /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/

## Preposition

1. After or subsequent to a particular event.
   - Simple: Coming after a particular event in time.
   - _Following the merger, several departments were reorganized._
   - _Ticket prices rose sharply following the championship win._
7. In accordance with a rule, model, or set of instructions; as per.
   - Simple: Done in the way a rule or plan says to.
   - _Following standard procedure, the nurse recorded each dosage._
   - _The bridge was built following the engineer's revised plans._

## Adjective

2. About to be specified or named, usually just after the point of mention.
   - Simple: Soon to be named, listed, or shown in the text.
   - _Bring the following documents to your appointment._
   - _The manual lists the following steps for setup._
3. Occupying the next position in a series or occurring immediately after a particular time or event.
   - Simple: Coming next in order or in time.
   - _The proposal was rejected, and the following week the team tried again._
   - _Each chapter ends with a question answered in the following section._
9. Blowing in the same direction as the travel rather than against it; downwind.
   - Simple: Blowing the same way you are moving, and helping you along.
   - _With a following wind, the schooner reached port hours ahead of schedule._
   - _Cyclists made fast time on the flat stretch thanks to a following wind._

## Verb

4. Present participle and gerund of follow: the verb's -ing form in any of its meanings, as in 'A dog was following us' or 'Following a map is easy.' — present participle and gerund of follow
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of follow, used in continuous verb forms or to name an action.
   - _Reporters were following the story as it developed._
   - _Following the coastline, they hiked for three days._

## Noun

5. The thing or things mentioned immediately afterward.
   - Simple: The thing or things named right after.
   - _The following includes everything you need to bring on the trip._
   - _He summarized the following for the committee members._
6. A group of followers, supporters, or admirers.
   - Simple: A group of people who support or admire someone or something.
   - _Her podcast built a devoted following within its first year._
   - _The politician's following grew rapidly after the debate._
8. On social media, an account whose updates a user has chosen to receive.
   - Simple: On social media, an account that you have chosen to follow.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A person's vocation, business, or profession.

## Origin

Formed from the verb "follow" combined with the suffix "-ing".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/following (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).