follow-up

[ fol-oh-uhp ]

noun

1. the act of following up.
2. an action or thing that serves to increase the effectiveness of a previous one, as a second or subsequent letter, phone call, or visit.
3. Also called follow. Journalism.
   1. a news story providing additional information on a story or article previously published.
   2. Also called sidebar, a minor news story used to supplement a related story of major importance. Compare feature story ( def 1 ), human-interest story, shirttail.

adjective

1. designed or serving to follow up, especially to increase the effectiveness of a previous action:

   a follow-up interview; a follow-up offer.

2. of or relating to action that follows an initial treatment, course of study, etc.:

   follow-up care for mental patients; a follow-up survey.

follow up

verb

1. to pursue or investigate (a person, evidence, etc) closely
2. to continue (action) after a beginning, esp to increase its effect

noun

1. 1. something done to reinforce an initial action
   2. ( as modifier )

      a follow-up letter

2. med a routine examination of a patient at various intervals after medical or surgical treatment

Word History and Origins

Origin of follow-up¹

First recorded in 1920–25; noun, adj. use of verb phrase follow up

Example Sentences

Mr Welby faced mounting pressure to step down after it emerged last week that he did not follow up rigorously enough on reports of prolific child abuse associated with the Church.

From BBC

Before I have time to properly follow up on that, and maybe because we’re sitting in a house giving off big ghost energy, we start talking about the dead appearing in our dreams — and our realities.

From Los Angeles Times

Parents are required to select their preferred school choices by Friday though the district’s Choices website; schools will then follow up with families regarding each program’s particular admissions criteria, a district spokesperson said Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

For Fiji, it represented a second international win in 15 games against Wales to follow up the World Cup victory in 2007.

From BBC

A couple of weeks later the fake Hong Kong investment company received an email - Socar wanted to follow up on the lead.

From BBC