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