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follow

/ˈfɑloʊ/
verbnoun

FOLLOW meaning spans going after someone, coming next in a sequence, and a particular billiards stroke; the word scores 12 Scrabble points.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction, especially with the intent of catching.

    “Follow that car!”

  2. To go or come after in a sequence.

    “B follows A in the alphabet.”

  3. To carry out (orders, instructions, etc.).

    “Follow these instructions to the letter.”

  4. To live one's life according to (religion, teachings, etc).

Noun 2 meanings

  1. In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.

    “a follow shot”

  2. The act of following another user's online activity.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English folwen, folȝen, folgen, from Old English folgian (“to follow, pursue”), from Proto-West Germanic *folgēn, from Proto-Germanic *fulgāną (“to follow”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
trailtailsucceedensuepursue
Opposite
guideleadprecedeantecedeforegounfollow

FOLLOW is a familiar six-letter word with more than one use: you can follow a person, follow a sequence, or talk about a follow in billiards. It also describes keeping up with another user’s online activity. The spelling has no anagrams in the listed word set, but three words sit one letter away: FELLOW, HOLLOW, and FALLOW.

FOLLOW at a glance

  • FOLLOW has six letters and scores 12 points in Scrabble.
  • F and W are worth 4 points apiece; both O tiles and both L tiles are worth 1.
  • The verb can mean to pursue someone or come after something in a sequence.
  • FELLOW, HOLLOW, and FALLOW are its three one-letter neighbours.

What does FOLLOW mean?

FOLLOW most often means to go after someone or move along the same path. In a sequence, one event follows another when it comes next. That second sense fits phrases such as “the next step follows” without requiring anyone to move.

The word has more specific uses, too. In billiards, a follow is a stroke that makes a ball travel after another ball has been hit. Online, to follow a user means to keep up with that person’s activity. Those distinct meanings make FOLLOW more than a simple synonym for chase.

FOLLOW is recognized in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE. Dictionary coverage does not guarantee that every game uses the same word list, so check your game’s rules before challenging a play.

How many points is FOLLOW worth?

FOLLOW scores 12 points before any board-square bonuses. The F and W provide 8 of those points together, while the two O tiles and two L tiles contribute 4 more. That split makes the opening and closing letters the scoring anchors; the repeated middle letters are low-value tiles.

For FOLLOW meaning-based word games, keep its definition separate from its tile value: the billiards noun and the online sense do not change the Scrabble score. The spelling has no anagrams, despite containing repeated O and L tiles.

Only three one-letter changes produce the recorded neighbours: FELLOW changes the second letter, HOLLOW changes the first, and FALLOW changes the second. Each keeps the final four letters, LLOW, intact. That shared ending is a quick way to spot the close alternatives without confusing them with anagrams.

Rhymes with follow

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

Can FOLLOW be used as a noun?
Yes, FOLLOW can be a noun in billiards. It refers to a stroke that causes a ball to follow another after impact. The word also works as a verb for pursuing someone or coming next in a sequence, so its grammatical role depends on the sentence.
Does FOLLOW have an anagram?
No anagrams of FOLLOW are recorded in the listed word set. Its letters are F, two Ls, two Os, and W; rearranging those tiles does not produce another entry here. FELLOW, HOLLOW, and FALLOW are close spellings, not anagrams, because each changes one letter.
Which words are one letter away from FOLLOW?
FELLOW, HOLLOW, and FALLOW are the three one-letter neighbours of FOLLOW. FELLOW and FALLOW replace the second letter, while HOLLOW replaces the first. All three keep the final LLOW sequence, which makes that ending a useful pattern to notice.

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