English Online Dictionary. What means following? What does following mean?
English
Etymology
By surface analysis, follow + -ing.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈfɑloʊɪŋ/
- Hyphenation: fol‧low‧ing
Adjective
following (not comparable)
- Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
- Synonyms: succeeding; see also Thesaurus:subsequent
- Antonyms: preceding; see also Thesaurus:former
- About to be specified.
- Synonym: undermentioned
- Antonyms: abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid
- (of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.
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.
Derived terms
- cult following
- following along
Translations
Preposition
following
- (sometimes proscribed) After, subsequent to.
- Antonyms: before, prior to
- In accordance with; as per.
- Synonym: per
Usage notes
Among usage mavens, there is a long tradition of deprecating following (in its "after" sense) in favor of after, coordinate with the long tradition of deprecating prior to in favor of before; the rationale is avoiding puffery via (as some mavens call them) fancy words where plain ones would be better. However, there is an equally long tradition of writers not knowing of, caring about, or bothering with these prescriptions, as well as an enduring urge to use fancy words to try to sound formal and authoritative.
Translations
Noun
following (plural followings)
- A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
- Vocation; business; profession.
- (with definite article, treated as singular or plural) A thing or things to be mentioned immediately after.
- (social media) An account which is followed.
- Coordinate term: follower
Translations
Verb
following
- present participle and gerund of follow