fol·low

verb

/ˈfɒləʊ/

/ˈfɑːləʊ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they follow	/ˈfɒləʊ/ /ˈfɑːləʊ/
he / she / it follows	/ˈfɒləʊz/ /ˈfɑːləʊz/
past simple followed	/ˈfɒləʊd/ /ˈfɑːləʊd/
past participle followed	/ˈfɒləʊd/ /ˈfɑːləʊd/
-ing form following	/ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/ /ˈfɑːləʊɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

go after

[transitive, intransitive] to come or go after or behind somebody/something跟随；跟着

follow somebody/something Follow me please.请跟我来。
follow somebody + adv./prep. He followed her into the house.他跟随她走进房屋。
They were followed down the street by a bunch of photographers.他们在街上被一群摄影师跟踪。
Wherever she led, they followed.她引向哪里，他们就跟到哪里。
Sam walked in, with the rest of the boys following closely behind.萨姆走了进来，其他男孩紧跟其后。

Extra Examples

The dog followed obediently at her heels.那只狗听话地跟在她身后。
Follow me please. I'll show you the way.请跟我走。我会给你指路的。
She followed blindly, stumbling over stones in her path.她目不视物地跟着，被路上的石头绊得跌跌撞撞。
She beckoned him to follow her.她示意让他跟着。
Johnson finished first, closely followed by Stevens and Higgins.约翰逊第一个冲过终点，史蒂文斯和希金斯紧随其后。
As Jackie walked up the aisle, her mother followed close behind.当杰基走上过道时，她的母亲紧随其后。

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

closely
reluctantly
dutifully
…

verb + follow

beckon somebody to
beckon to somebody to

phrases

being followed
follow close behind (somebody)
follow right behind (somebody)
…

[transitive] follow somebody/something to come or go after or behind somebody in order to watch where they go and what they do跟踪；追踪

I think we're being followed.我觉得有人跟踪我们。
Police followed the car along Station Road where it mounted the kerb again.警察沿着车站路跟踪这辆车，然后它又上了路边。
As she walked home, she had the feeling she was being followed.走回家的路上，她总觉得有人在跟踪她。

happen/do after

[transitive, intransitive] to come after something/somebody else in time or order; to happen as a result of something else（时间或顺序上）在…后发生；因…而发生

follow (something/somebody) I remember little of the days that followed the accident.那次事故以后的日子我记不大清楚了。
A period of unrest followed the president's resignation.总统辞职之后有一段时期的动荡。
The first two classes are followed by a break of ten minutes.上完头两节课，有十分钟的课间休息。
The main course was followed by fresh fruit.主菜以后是新鲜水果。
to follow I'll have soup and fish to follow.我要汤，然后再来份鱼。
A detailed news report will follow shortly.下面紧接着是详细的新闻报道。
There follows… There followed a short silence.接着沉默了一会儿。
as follows… The opening hours are as follows…营业时间如下…
follow on from something A new proposal followed on from the discussions.讨论之后，出了一个新提案。
the workers' revolts that followed in the wake of the student uprising发生在学生动乱之后的工人暴动

Extra Examples

The first mailing was followed by a postcard reminder to all who received the survey.在第一次邮寄之后，我们向所有收到调查的人发送了一张明信片提醒。
Periods of great creativity were followed by years in which he composed nothing. 伟大的创造力时期之后，他便陷入了无创作的岁月。
Edward was followed in 1553 by Elizabeth's Catholic half-sister Mary.1553 年，伊丽莎白的天主教徒同父异母的妹妹玛丽继承了爱德华的王位。

Topics Change, cause and effecta2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

closely
quickly
shortly
…

phrases

(be) followed by something
follow in the wake of something

[transitive] to do something after something else在…后做

follow something with something Give your contact details and follow this with a brief profile of yourself.给出你的详细联系方式，然后简要介绍一下自己。
follow something up with something They follow up their March show with four UK dates next month.他们在三月演出以后，就是下个月在英国的四场演出。

Extra Examples

Follow your treatment with plenty of rest.治疗后要充分休息。
He followed these novels with three volumes of autobiography.在这些小说之后，他出版了三卷自传。

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

closely
quickly
shortly
…

phrases

(be) followed by something
follow in the wake of something

advice/instructions

[transitive] follow something to accept advice, instructions, etc. and do what you have been told or shown to do接受，遵循，听从（忠告、指示等）

to follow rules/procedures/guidelines遵循规则／程序／指南
They said they were just following orders.他们说他们只是奉命行事。
He has trouble following simple instructions.简单的指示他都难以照办。
Why didn't you follow my advice?你为什么不听我的劝告？
Turn right and follow signs to Dundee.右转并按照路标前往邓迪。
I never follow a recipe completely.我从不完全遵循食谱。
He followed a strict diet.他严格控制饮食。

Extra Examples

Follow the instructions very carefully.非常仔细地按照说明进行操作。
I didn't really follow the recipe.我其实不太按食谱的规定去做。
Read the label and follow the directions for use.阅读标签并遵循使用说明。
Leave the M4 at junction 11, then follow the signs.在 11 号交叉路口离开 M4，然后按照路标行驶。
When we tried to follow a sign directing us right into Greater Bridgewater Street, we found the road was closed.当我们试图按照指示牌直接进入大布里奇沃特街时，我们发现道路已封闭。

Topics Suggestions and advicea2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
to the letter
dutifully
…

accept/copy

[transitive, intransitive] to accept somebody/something as a guide, a leader or an example; to copy somebody/something接受…为指导（或领导、榜样）；追随；拥护；仿效

follow (somebody/something) I encourage others to follow our example.我鼓励其他人仿效我们。
The Senate is expected to follow the lead of the House.预计参议院将遵循众议院的领导。
We believe it is in our best interests to follow the path of economic openness and growth.我们相信，走经济开放和增长的道路符合我们的最佳利益。
The movie follows the book faithfully.这部电影忠于原著。
They followed the teachings of Buddha.他们信佛教。
He always followed the latest fashions (= dressed in fashionable clothes).他总是紧跟着服装潮流。
Where one airline leads, others follow.一家航空公司带头，其他航空公司紧随其后。
follow somebody into something Laura followed her mother into the medical profession (= became a doctor like her mother).劳拉继承母亲的事业当了医生。

Extra Examples

Banks are expected to follow the building societies in raising mortgage rates.预计银行将仿效房屋互助协会的做法提高按揭贷款利率。
It wasn't in his nature to follow blindly.他天性并不盲从。
How do your feel your writing follows in the tradition of the South?您觉得您的写作如何遵循南方的传统？
slavishly following the views of his teachers盲目照搬他老师的观点
I don't want you to follow my example and rush into marriage.我不希望你效仿我的做法，急于结婚。
Following the example of Barcelona, greater emphasis is now given to public spaces. 效仿巴塞罗那的例子，现在更加重视公共空间。
He ordered a glass of champagne, and we followed his lead. 他点了一杯香槟，我们跟着他。
He leads by example and the others follow.他以身作则，其他人也纷纷效仿。
Marc is following a path laid down by his father.马克正在追随他父亲所设定的道路。

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

faithfully
blindly
slavishly
…

verb + follow

be expected to
be likely to

phrases

follow in somebody’s footsteps
follow in the tradition of somebody/something
follow suit
…

website

follow something to click on a link in a website点击（网络链接）

Follow the links to sign up for the webinar.点击链接报名参加网络研讨会。

road/path

[transitive] follow something to go along a road, path, etc. 沿着（道路、小径等）

Follow this road until you get to the school, then turn left.沿着这条路走到学校，然后向左拐。

[transitive] follow something (of a road, path, etc.) to go in the same direction as something or parallel to something沿着…伸延；与…平行

The lane follows the edge of a wood for about a mile.小路沿树林边延伸约一英里。

be result

[intransitive, transitive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be the logical result of something是…的必然结果

follow from something I don't see how that follows from what you've just said.根据你刚才所说的，我不明白怎么会产生那样的结果。
follow on from something Several conclusions follow on from his statement.从他的叙述中可以得出一些结论。
it follows that… If a = b and b = c it follows that a = c.设 a = b，b = c，则 a = c。
It does not necessarily follow that sleep loss would cause these symptoms.由此不一定得出失眠会引起这些症状的结论。

Topics Change, cause and effectb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

not necessarily
logically
naturally
…

preposition

(on) from

understand

[intransitive, transitive] to understand an explanation or the meaning of something理解，明白（说明或意思）

Sorry, I don't follow.对不起，我不明白。
follow somebody Do you follow me?你听得懂我的话吗？
follow something I couldn't really follow his argument.我无法真正理解他的论点。
The plot is almost impossible to follow.故事情节几乎叫人看不懂。
to be easy/difficult/hard to follow容易/困难/难以遵循

Extra Examples

Sorry, I don't follow you.抱歉，我不关注你。
His argument was difficult to follow.他的论点很难让人理解。

Synonyms understandunderstandsee ▪ get ▪ follow ▪ grasp ▪ comprehendThese words all mean to know or realize something, for example why something happens, how something works or what something means.understand to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what somebody says, etc.; to know or realize how or why something happens, how it works or why it is important:

I don’t understand the instructions.我不懂这些指令的意思。
Doctors still don’t understand much about the disease.医生对这种疾病还了解不多。

see to understand what is happening, what somebody is saying, how something works or how important something is:

‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, I see.’“这样就打开了。”“哦，我明白了。”
Oh yes, I see what you mean.噢，我明白你的意思了。

get (informal) to understand a joke, what somebody is trying to tell you, or a situation that they are trying to describe:

She didn’t get the joke.她听不懂那个笑话。
I don’t get you.我搞不懂你的意思。

follow to understand an explanation, a story or the meaning of something:

Sorry—I don’t quite follow.抱歉，我没太听懂（你的话）。
The plot is almost impossible to follow.故事情节几乎叫人看不懂。

grasp to come to understand a fact, an idea or how to do something:

They failed to grasp the importance of his words.他们没有理解他的话的重要性。

understand or grasp?You can use understand or grasp for the action of realizing the meaning or importance of something for the first time: It’s a difficult concept for children to understand/grasp. Only understand can be used to talk about languages, words or writing: I don’t grasp French/the instructions. comprehend (often used in negative statements) (formal) to understand a fact, idea or reason:

The concept of infinity is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend.无穷的概念几乎是人类的大脑无法理解的。

Patterns

to understand/see/get/follow/grasp/comprehend what/why/how…
to understand/see/grasp/comprehend that…
to understand/see/get/grasp the point/idea (of something)
to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/grasp/comprehend
to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend something

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

not quite

verb + follow

be easy to
be difficult to
be hard to
…

watch/listen

[transitive] follow somebody/something to watch or listen to somebody/something very carefully密切注视；倾听

The children were following every word of the story intently.孩子们一字不漏地专心听故事。
Her eyes followed him everywhere (= she was looking at him all the time).她一直在注视着他。

be interested in

[transitive] follow something to take an active interest in something and be aware of what is happening; to support a sports team对…产生浓厚兴趣而关注；支持（某运动队）

We've been following this story for months.我们已经关注这件事好几个月了。
Have you been following the basketball championships?你是否一直在关注篮球锦标赛的赛程？
Millions of people followed the trial on TV.几百万人饶有兴趣地收看了电视转播的审判。
In his leisure time he follows West Ham United.闲暇时他关注西汉姆联队。

Extra Examples

They say it takes dedication to follow a football team week-in, week-out for eight months of the season.他们说，在一个赛季的八个月里，每周一周地跟踪一支足球队需要奉献精神。
Will this be a big shock to people who follow events closely in Washington?这对于密切关注华盛顿事态的人们来说会是一个巨大的震惊吗？

[transitive] follow somebody to choose to regularly see content from a person, company, etc. using a social media service选择使用社交媒体服务定期查看来自个人、公司等的内容

I don’t follow many celebrities on Twitter any more.我不再在推特上关注很多名人了。

Topics Phones, email and the internetb2

of book/movie

[transitive] follow something to be about the life or development of somebody/something涉及…生活；有关…发展

The novel follows the fortunes of a village community in Scotland.小说叙述了苏格兰一个村落的变迁。

pattern/course

[transitive] follow something to develop or happen in a particular way按…方式（或方向）发展；以…方式发生

The day followed the usual pattern.这一天和平常过得一样。

Word OriginOld English folgian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch volgen and German folgen.

Idioms

follow in somebody’s footsteps

to do the same job, have the same style of life, etc. as somebody else, especially somebody in your family仿效某人
- She works in television, following in her father's footsteps.她步父亲的后尘，在电视台工作。
- He wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps and be a ballroom dancer.他想象他母亲那样，以跳交际舞为业。

follow your nose

to be guided by your sense of smell凭嗅觉指引
to go straight forward一直向前走
- The garage is a mile ahead up the hill—just follow your nose.汽车修理站在前面一英里处的山坡上，一直往前走就可以到。
to act according to what seems right or reasonable, rather than following any particular rules凭感觉行事；凭直觉办事

follow suit

(in card games) to play a card of the same suit that has just been played跟牌（跟着别人出同花色的牌）
to act or behave in the way that somebody else has just done跟着某人做；仿效某人；照着做

a hard/tough act to follow

a person or event that is so good or successful at something that it will be difficult for anyone/anything else coming after them to be as good or successful令人望尘莫及的人；难以企及的事件
- She has been an excellent principal and will be a hard act to follow.她是一位出色的校长，也是一位难以效仿的校长。
- Their contribution will prove a tough act to follow.他们的贡献将被证明是一项艰巨的任务。
Topics Successc2