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: foe, enemy, adversary, opponent

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

Indeed, it is the follower who risks their own safety by choosing to love their enemies, heal the sick, serve the poor and love those who are cast out, imprisoned or powerless.

From Salon

The withdrawn figure who appeared in the dock was a far cry from being "one of the greatest teachers of our generation", as he is described by a follower writing his book.

From BBC

“One thing it has taught me is to become a good leader, you first have to be a good follower and learn from the people above you,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

"I won't concede 'evangelical' to the religious right. I'm still evangelical, which means you want to be rooted as a follower of Jesus, and you want to take the Bible very seriously. And that means taking to heart Jesus' teachings about people on the margins and that we're all one in Christ, no matter our race and class and gender," said Rev. Jim Wallis, an evangelical theologian and author who has pushed for anti-poverty, pro-worker policies in Washington.

From Salon

“Yes, culturally it’s difficult,” said Kocourek, who was doxxed two years ago by a QAnon follower who chased her in a car and harassed her near the border, claiming she worked for the cartels.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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