follower

[ fol-oh-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that follows.
2. a person who follows another in regard to their ideas or belief; disciple or adherent.

   Synonyms: supporter

   Antonyms: adversary, opponent, foe, enemy

3. a person who imitates, copies, or takes as a model or ideal:

   He was little more than a follower of current modes.

4. an attendant, servant, or retainer.
5. a person who follows or subscribes to another's posts on a social media website:

   He spent hours figuring out how to get more followers on Twitter.

6. British Informal. a boyfriend or suitor, especially of a maidservant.
7. Machinery. a part receiving motion from or following the movements of another part, especially a cam.
8. Engineering, Building Trades. a concrete form attached to the head of a timber pile to permit casting of a concrete cap or pier.

follower

/ ˈfɒləʊə /

noun

1. a person who accepts the teachings of another; disciple; adherent

   a follower of Marx

2. an attendant or henchman
3. an enthusiast or supporter, as of a sport or team
4. (esp formerly) a male admirer
5. rare.
   a pursuer
6. a machine part that derives its motion by following the motion of another part

Word History and Origins

Origin of follower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English folwer, Old English folgere. See follow, -er ¹

Synonym Study

Follower, adherent, partisan refer to someone who demonstrates allegiance to a person, a doctrine, a cause, or the like. Follower often has an implication of personal relationship or of slavish acquiescence. Adherent, a more formal word, has implications of active championship of a person or a point of view. Partisan, ordinarily meaning a person prejudiced and unreasoning in adherence to a party, during World War II took on the meaning of a member of certain groups in occupied countries of Europe who carried on underground resistance to the Nazis.

Example Sentences

As you build your audience on websites like Facebook and Instagram, be sure to engage with followers consistently.

From Search Engine Watch

She’s racked up tens of millions of followers worldwide and more than 3 billion total views on YouTube.

From TechCrunch

Even if you have a large follower base on social media, organic reach on social platforms is in a steady decline.

From Search Engine Watch

The FBI has named QAnon a domestic terrorism threat, and it has gained more attention as its followers have run for Congress and attempted to co-opt legitimate anti-sex trafficking marches for their own political purposes.

From Ozy

If an influencer’s audience aligns with your target demographic you can pay them to promote your brand to their followers.

From Essence.com

The Austria-based restaurant was first noted by the scholar and monk Albuin, who was a devout follower of Charlemagne.

From The Daily Beast

At every turn, they described their son as a faithful follower who had dedicated his life to easing the suffering of innocents.

From The Daily Beast

Ad after ad I saw described Hagan as a “rubber stamp,” almost zombie-esque follower of Obama.

From The Daily Beast

When I started writing this book, I noticed that I had a new Twitter follower by the name of Lonnie Konkel.

From The Daily Beast

Al-Zarqawi believed in the importance of purging apostates – something his follower clearly endorses.

From The Daily Beast

But in spite of this the neglect rankled, and from that day he was no longer the blindly devoted follower of Napoleon.

From Project Gutenberg

"Come in," said Norman to his follower, as he crossed the entrance of the little shop, the first time he had ever been there.

From Project Gutenberg

Here I met again constantly the great sportsman who had noticed me so kindly, and I became his follower, his disciple.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no applause as the little man outwitted his follower by an adroit dodge under the ticket wagon.

From Project Gutenberg

No, the clown would not own him as a follower: he would despise his little attempts at practical jokes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adherent
• admirer
• advocate
• backer
• believer
• client
• devotee
• disciple
• fan
• member
• participant
• patron
• supporter
• worshiper