follow

/ˈfɒləʊ/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈɑlo] /ˈfɑːləʊ/ (ame, ipa) · [fˈɑlo] /ˈfä-(ˌ)lō/ (ame, mw)

follow — 動詞

  • followpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • followshe / she / it
  • followedpast simple
  • following-ing form

1. to walk, drive, or travel behind a person, animal, or vehicle because you want t

1.動詞及物A1
釋義

跟隨

走在某人或某物後面

to walk, drive, or travel behind a person, animal, or vehicle because you want to reach the same place they are going to

例句

Élise followed the tour guide through the narrow streets of the old town.

Élise 跟著導遊穿過老城區狹窄的街道。

follow + person as object

A stray dog followed the children all the way to the school gate.

一隻流浪狗一路跟著孩子們走到學校門口。

同義詞
  • trail

    often suggests following secretly or at a distance

  • chase

    implies trying to catch, not just going behind

  • pursue

    more formal, often used in police or military contexts

反義詞
  • lead

    to go in front so that others come behind

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (person / vehicle / animal)

用法筆記

This sense focuses on physical movement behind a moving target. It differs from sense 4 (IMITATE), which uses 'follow' in a non-physical way to mean copying someone's behaviour or choices.

常見錯誤

❌The letter followed me to my new address.
✅The letter was forwarded to my new address.
💡'follow' with physical movement requires the subject to move under its own power, not be sent by mail.

2. to keep moving on a road, path, or waterway, letting it guide you forward as you

2.動詞及物A1
釋義

沿著走

順著道路、小徑等方向前進

to keep moving on a road, path, or waterway, letting it guide you forward as you travel

例句

Follow this road for two kilometres, and you will see the library on your left.

沿這條路走大約兩公里，你就會在左邊看到圖書館。

imperative form with road as object

The hiking trail follows the river for most of its length through the forest.

這條健行步道大部分路段都沿著河流，穿過森林。

同義詞
  • go along

    less formal, equally common in everyday speech

  • keep to

    emphasises staying on a particular path without leaving it

文法句型

follow + road / path / river / trail / sign

用法筆記

The object is always a fixed route or directional marker — a road, path, river, line, or sign — not a person or moving thing.

3. in card games, when another player leads a round by putting a card on the table,

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

跟牌

打出與前一張牌相同花色的牌

in card games, when another player leads a round by putting a card on the table, to put down a card that shares the suit symbol of that lead card

例句

When the first player puts down a heart, everyone else must follow suit.

第一位玩家打出紅心之後，其他每個人都必須跟著出紅心。

fixed phrase 'follow suit'

Ziad had no spades left and could not follow the king of spades.

Ziad 手上已經沒有黑桃了，所以他無法跟出黑桃K。

文法句型

follow suit

follow + noun (card value or suit)

cannot follow

用法筆記

The fixed phrase 'follow suit' is also used outside card games as an idiom meaning 'do the same thing as someone else' — see sense 4 for that meaning.

4. to copy what another person does by taking them as a model for your own behaviou

4.動詞及物A2
釋義

效仿

模仿他人的做法或生活方式

to copy what another person does by taking them as a model for your own behaviour, career, or choices

例句

Younger children often follow the example set by their older siblings.

年紀較小的孩子常常會模仿哥哥姊姊的行為。

follow + example (collocation)

After the bakery became popular, nearby shops followed its lead and started selling sourdough bread.

那家麵包店成功之後，附近好幾家店也跟著開始賣酸種麵包。

同義詞
  • imitate

    more direct and often used for copying specific actions rather than general behaviour

  • copy

    less formal and may suggest less independent thinking

  • emulate

    more formal; implies trying to match or surpass someone's achievement

反義詞
  • reject

    to refuse to accept someone's way of doing things

文法句型

follow + example / lead / advice

follow + person + into + profession/activity

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (GO AFTER): this sense has no physical movement — you can 'follow someone's example' without moving anywhere near them.

常見錯誤

❌I followed my friend to do the same course.
✅I followed my friend's example and took the same course.
💡Use 'follow + noun' not 'follow + person + to-infinitive.'

5. to come or happen after something else in time, order, or a sequence of events

5.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

接著發生

在時間或順序上發生於某事之後

to come or happen after something else in time, order, or a sequence of events

例句

A long, uncomfortable silence followed her unexpected announcement about leaving the company.

她做出出乎意料的宣布之後，現場陷入一片漫長的沉默。

The main course was followed by a delicious chocolate dessert.

主菜之後上了一道美味的巧克力甜點。

passive: be followed by

同義詞
  • come after

    less formal, used in everyday conversation

  • succeed

    formal; often used for someone taking over a position or role

  • ensue

    formal; suggests something happens as a direct result

反義詞
  • precede

    to come before something else in time or order

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (event / action)

be followed by + noun

as follows

what follows

用法筆記

In the fixed phrase 'as follows' (sense 6), 'follow' is used to introduce a list. That is a separate usage with a distinct grammatical structure.

常見錯誤

❌Tuesday follows after Monday.
✅Tuesday follows Monday.
💡'follow' already includes the idea of 'after', so 'follow after' is redundant.

6. used to introduce the items in a list or the next part of a piece of writing, es

6.動詞B1
釋義

如下

用於引出列表或後續內容

used to introduce the items in a list or the next part of a piece of writing, especially in formal or written English

例句

The competition rules are as follows: no phones, notes, or talking to other candidates.

比賽規則如下：禁止使用手機、禁止看筆記、禁止與其他考生交談。

fixed phrase 'as follows' before a list

Please read the following instructions carefully before you begin the test.

開始測驗之前，請仔細閱讀以下說明。

adjective use: 'the following + noun'

同義詞
  • below

    used in writing to refer to later text, e.g. 'see below'

文法句型

as follows + colon + list

the following + noun

用法筆記

This sense only occurs in the fixed expressions 'as follows' and 'the following'. You cannot replace 'follows' with 'comes after' or any synonym in these phrases.

常見錯誤

❌The details are as follow.
✅The details are as follows.
💡'as follows' is always singular, even when introducing a list of many items.

7. to do what a person, rule, law, or set of instructions tells you to do

7.動詞及物B1
釋義

遵守

按照規則或指示行事

to do what a person, rule, law, or set of instructions tells you to do

例句

All staff must follow the safety procedures when operating heavy machinery.

所有員工在操作重型機械時都必須遵守安全程序。

collocation: follow procedures / rules / guidelines

Adina followed her doctor's advice and started walking for thirty minutes each day.

Adina 聽從醫生的建議，每天開始走路三十分鐘。

collocation: follow advice / instructions / orders

同義詞
  • obey

    stronger and more about authority; 'follow' is softer and includes suggestions

  • abide by

    more formal; used with laws, contracts, or agreements

  • adhere to

    formal; stresses strict compliance with rules or standards

反義詞
  • disobey

    deliberately not doing what you are told

  • ignore

    to pay no attention to a rule or instruction

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (rule / advice / instruction)

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns such as rule(s), law(s), procedure(s), advice, instruction(s), order(s), or guideline(s). The object specifies what is being obeyed.

常見錯誤

❌Please follow the rule what I told you.
✅Please follow the rule I told you about.
💡'follow' is a transitive verb and does not need 'what' to connect to a clause.

8. to take a specific path of development or to carry out a sequence of actions acc

8.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

進行

以特定方式發展或按照計劃進行

to take a specific path of development or to carry out a sequence of actions according to a given plan or method

例句

The negotiations followed a familiar pattern, with each side refusing to compromise at first.

談判按照常見的模式進行，雙方一開始都不願讓步。

follow + pattern / course / route

The novel follows the life of a young woman who moves from Kenya to Canada.

這部小說講述了一名年輕女性從肯亞搬到加拿大的生活歷程。

follow + someone's life / career / journey

同義詞
  • proceed

    more formal; focuses on moving forward step by step

  • develop

    emphasises change and growth rather than sticking to a plan

  • pursue

    suggests active effort to achieve a particular course of action

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (pattern / course / plan)

S + follow (intransitive)

用法筆記

When transitive, the object is typically an abstract noun describing a sequence or method (pattern, course, plan, schedule). When intransitive, the subject is usually the event or story itself ('the argument followed from the evidence').

9. to pay close attention to something as it changes or develops over time, such as

9.動詞及物B2
釋義

關注

密切注意某事的發展或變化

to pay close attention to something as it changes or develops over time, such as news, a sport, or someone's career

例句

Devika has been following the election results since the polls opened this morning.

Devika 從投票所開門就一直在關注選舉結果。

follow + news / results / events

Millions of fans around the world follow their favourite football teams week after week.

世界各地數百萬的球迷每週都在關注他們最喜歡的足球隊。

同義詞
  • monitor

    more formal; suggests systematic and careful observation

  • track

    emphasises recording changes or movements over time

  • keep up with

    more informal; similar meaning but phrasal

反義詞
  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (news / events / career / sport)

用法筆記

Commonly used with topics that unfold over time: sports, politics, scientific research, entertainment. The focus is on staying updated rather than just watching once.

常見錯誤

❌I followed the movie last night.' (when meaning you just watched it once).
✅I followed the news about the election.
💡'follow' implies ongoing attention, not a single viewing.

10. to come about as a necessary outcome of an earlier event, fact, or action

10.動詞不及物B2
釋義

因而產生

作為先前事件的必然結果

to come about as a necessary outcome of an earlier event, fact, or action

例句

If the factory ignores the warning, serious legal problems will follow.

如果工廠不理會警告，接下來就會出現嚴重的法律問題。

intransitive: consequences / problems follow

Liam left the milk out of the fridge, and by morning a sour smell followed.

Liam 把牛奶放在冰箱外面，到了早上就傳出了一股酸味。

intransitive: result follows from action

同義詞
  • result

    more direct; stresses cause-and-effect

  • ensue

    formal; often used for events that happen immediately after

  • stem from

    emphasises the origin or source of something

反義詞
  • cause

    to make something happen rather than happen as a result

文法句型

it follows that…

A follows from B

B is followed by A

用法筆記

Often used in formal or logical contexts with 'it follows that…' to introduce a conclusion. The passive construction 'be followed by' indicates sequence and consequence simultaneously.

常見錯誤

❌The rain followed by the flood.' (missing verb).
✅The rain was followed by the flood.
💡'followed by' in passive requires a form of 'be'.

11. to understand what someone is saying or explaining as they speak or present it

11.動詞及物B2
釋義

聽懂

理解正在說的話或表達的內容

to understand what someone is saying or explaining as they speak or present it

例句

The lecture was so complex that only a few students could follow the professor's reasoning.

那場演講太複雜了，只有少數學生能夠理解教授提出的論證。

can/could follow + argument / reasoning

Élise asked the speaker to slow down because she could not follow his French.

Élise 請講者說慢一點，因為她聽不太懂他講的法語。

follow + language / accent

同義詞
  • understand

    broader in meaning; 'follow' implies understanding something as it unfolds

  • grasp

    suggests fully understanding something that may be complex

  • comprehend

    more formal; focuses on the mental process of understanding

反義詞

文法句型

can/could follow + noun phrase (argument / explanation / language)

用法筆記

Commonly used with modals can/could, especially in questions or negative statements ('I can't follow you'). The object is typically an explanation, argument, language, or line of thought.

常見錯誤

❌I can't follow to you.
✅I can't follow you.
💡'follow' is transitive here and does not take a preposition.

12. to look at written words or music symbols while someone speaks, sings, or perfor

12.動詞及物B2
釋義

跟讀

邊聽邊看著樂譜或文字

to look at written words or music symbols while someone speaks, sings, or performs, keeping your place as they go along

例句

The choir members followed the sheet music while the conductor led them through the piece.

合唱團團員一邊看著樂譜，一邊跟著指揮的帶領演唱。

follow + sheet music / score

Xiu followed the lyrics on her phone while the band played the new song.

樂團演奏新歌時，Xiu 在手機上跟著歌詞看。

follow + lyrics / words of a song

同義詞
  • read along

    phrasal verb with the same meaning; more informal

文法句型

follow + noun phrase (lyrics / score / text)

用法筆記

Often used in classroom or performance settings where the audience reads along with spoken or musical content. The object is typically a written form: lyrics, score, sheet music, or printed text.

13. to press a button on a social-networking site or app so that the content posted

13.動詞及物A2
釋義

追蹤

在社群媒體上訂閱他人貼文

to press a button on a social-networking site or app so that the content posted by a particular person or organisation appears in your feed on a regular basis

例句

Tendai follows her favourite Taiwanese singer on Instagram so she never misses a new photo.

Tendai 在 Instagram 上追蹤她最喜歡的台灣歌手，這樣她就不會錯過任何新照片。

follow + person + on + platform name

Ada decided to follow the cooking channel after watching their first video.

Ada 看完那個烹飪頻道的第一支影片後，決定追蹤他們。

同義詞
  • subscribe to

    more formal; often used for YouTube channels or newsletters rather than individual social-media accounts

反義詞
  • unfollow

    the direct opposite action on the same platform

文法句型

follow + person/organisation/account

用法筆記

Common on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. The person being followed does not need to follow you back.

常見錯誤

❌I followed the recipe to make soup.' (when you mean social media).
✅I follow the chef on Instagram for recipe ideas.
💡'follow a recipe' means to do the steps in instructions, not to subscribe to someone's social media feed.