In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.
"After making contact with the cue ball, she let out a sharp cry as her shot finally followed the object ball into the corner pocket."
In plain English: A follow is a person who comes after someone else in a line or group.
"The instructions did not make sense without a clear set of directions to follow."
Usage: In billiards, a follow refers specifically to a shot where the cue ball travels in the same direction as the object ball immediately after impact. Do not use this term for general actions of tracking or obeying someone, which require the verb form instead.
Verb
1
to travel behind, go after, come after
"The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"
To go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction.
"The detective decided to follow the suspect through the crowded market until he lost sight of him."
In plain English: To follow means to go after someone or something by moving in the same direction.
"She decided to follow his advice and take a different route home."
Usage: Use "follow" when you physically move behind someone or something that has already started moving, such as walking down a path they have taken. It describes the action of pursuing or trailing along the same route rather than leading the way.
Example Sentences
"The instructions did not make sense without a clear set of directions to follow."noun
"We need to catch up on our reading follow tomorrow morning."noun
"The police suspect that no one followed the stolen car."noun
"He decided to take a different path instead of following his father's advice."noun
"She decided to follow his advice and take a different route home."verb
The word "follow" comes from the Old English verb folgian, which originally meant to pursue someone. It traveled into Middle English as folwen and eventually became the modern term we use today.