Definition of following

The noun following has 2 senses? (first 1 from tagged texts)

(a group of followers or enthusiasts)

(the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture; "the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit")

The verb follow has 24 senses? (first 16 from tagged texts)

(to travel behind, go after, come after; "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"; "Please follow the guide through the museum")

(be later in time; "Tuesday always follows Monday")

(come as a logical consequence; follow logically; "It follows that your assertion is false"; "the theorem falls out nicely")

(travel along a certain course; "follow the road"; "follow the trail")

(act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes; "He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules")

(come after in time, as a result; "A terrible tsunami followed the earthquake")

(behave in accordance or in agreement with; "Follow a pattern"; "Follow my example")

(be next; "Mary plays best, with John and Sue following")

(choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans; "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals")

(to bring something about at a later time than; "She followed dinner with a brandy"; "He followed his lecture with a question and answer period")

(imitate in behavior; take as a model; "Teenagers follow their friends in everything")

(follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress")

(follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars")

(be the successor (of); "Carter followed Ford"; "Will Charles succeed to the throne?")

(perform an accompaniment to; "The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano")

(keep informed; "He kept up on his country's foreign policies")

(to be the product or result; "Melons come from a vine"; "Understanding comes from experience")

(accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of; "Let's follow our great helmsman!"; "She followed a guru for years")

(adhere to or practice; "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion")

(work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function; "He is a herpetologist"; "She is our resident philosopher")

(keep under surveillance; "The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing")

(follow in or as if in pursuit; "The police car pursued the suspected attacker"; "Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life")

(grasp the meaning; "Can you follow her argument?"; "When he lectures, I cannot follow")

(keep to; "Stick to your principles"; "stick to the diet")

The adj following has 4 senses? (first 3 from tagged texts)

(about to be mentioned or specified; "the following items")

(immediately following in time or order; "the following day"; "next in line"; "the next president"; "the next item on the list")

(going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction; "the crowd of following cars made the occasion seem like a parade"; "tried to outrun the following footsteps")

(in the desired direction; "a following wind")