fol·low-up
ˈfä-lō-ˌəp 
1
a
: the act or an instance of following up
b
: something that follows up
2
: maintenance of contact with or reexamination of a person (such as a patient) especially following treatment
The surgeon scheduled a follow-up with his patient a week after the surgery.
3
: a news story presenting new information on a story published earlier
A few days after the story broke, the newspaper printed a follow-up.
1
: of, relating to, or being something that follows up
follow-up action by the police—
Frank Faulkner
Frank Faulknerhad a few follow-up questions after the interview
2
: done, conducted, or administered in the course of following up persons
follow-up care for discharged hospital patients
followed up; following up; follows up
1
: to follow with something similar, related, or supplementary
following up his convictions with action—G. P. Merrill
G. P. MerrillShe followed up her first novel with a second one.
2
: to maintain contact with (a person) so as to monitor the effects of earlier activities or treatments
All patients were followed up clinically for four months.
3
: to pursue in an effort to take further action
the police are following up leads
: to take appropriate action
follow up on complaints
Examples of follow-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rob Auld, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
These packages offer follow-up appointments, high-quality hotel accommodations, and transportation services.
—Kyle J. Russell, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Michael Kan, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2023
In a follow-up statement released around 2 p.m., the agency said the restrictions would remain in place until at least the end of service.
—John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Israel followed up the pager detonations with the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike and launching incursions in south Lebanon.
—Reuters, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for follow-up 
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Noun
Prospects no longer wait for a follow-up and instead get instant guidance, which has boosted engagement and interest in our offerings.
—Rob Auld, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
These packages offer follow-up appointments, high-quality hotel accommodations, and transportation services.
—Kyle J. Russell, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The user can also tell Bing to alter the image with follow-up requests, as Microsoft’s demo shows.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2023
In a follow-up statement released around 2 p.m., the agency said the restrictions would remain in place until at least the end of service.
—John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
Verb
An introductory episode to the families follows up with episodes that relate to each family’s drama.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Israel followed up the pager detonations with the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike and launching incursions in south Lebanon.
—Reuters, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for follow-up
Dictionary Entries Near follow-up
Cite this Entry
“Follow-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/follow-up. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
follow-up
1 of 2 noun
fol·low-up
ˈfäl-ə-ˌwəp, ˌfäl-
: maintenance of contact with a patient at one or more designated intervals following diagnosis or treatment especially to examine again or monitor the progress of therapy
also
: an instance of such contact
At three-month and six-month follow-ups, he had only mild, residual facial swelling on the lower left side. —Meredith August et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Meredith August et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
follow-up
adjective
a follow-up visit
follow-up care
When ovarian cancer is found, better follow-up procedures and more aggressive chemotherapy are prolonging remissions, even in women with advanced disease.
—Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Mayo Clinic Health Letter
follow up
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to maintain contact with (a patient) at one or more designated intervals following diagnosis or treatment especially to examine again or monitor the progress of therapy
patients who are followed up after their discharge
She was discharged on postoperative day 4 and was followed up in the surgery clinic 19 days postoperatively.—Steven L. Bloom et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Steven L. Bloom et al., The New England Journal of MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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