Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Following

Fol′low-ing

,
Noun.
1.
One’s followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively.
Macaulay.
2.
Vocation; business; profession.

Fol′low-ing

,
Adj.
1.
Next after; succeeding; ensuing;
as, the assembly was held on the
following
day
.
2.
(Astron.)
(In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars are apparently moving (in consequence of the earth's rotation);
as, a small star, north
following
or south
following
. In the direction toward which stars appear to move is called preceding.
☞ The four principal directions in the field of a telescope are north, south, following, preceding.

Webster 1828 Edition


Following

FOL'LOWING

,
ppr.
Coming or going after or behind; pursuing; attending; imitating; succeeding in time; resulting from as an effect or an inference; adhering to; obeying, observing; using, practicing; proceeding in the same course.

Definition 2024


following

following

English

Adjective

following (not comparable)

  1. Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
    See the following section.
  2. About to be specified.
    The following words have no definition []
  3. (of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.
    The following wind sped us on our way.

Usage notes

(Senses 1, 2) When it modifies a noun phrase, it is generally preceded by the definite article the, and the combination functions as a determiner rather than a simple adjective. You can put it before a cardinal like the following two remarks instead of the two following remarks.

Antonyms

Translations

Preposition

following

  1. After, subsequent to.
    Following the meeting, we all had a chat.

Translations

Noun

following (plural followings)

  1. A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
    He had a loyal following.
    • 2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport:
      And White Hart Lane was stunned when Rovers scored just five minutes after the restart in front of their away following.
  2. Something to be mentioned immediately later. Used with the definite article the.
    The following is a recommendation letter from the president.
  3. Vocation; business; profession.

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: business · mean · manner · #385: following · fell · different · care