follow-up

UK: ˈfɒləʊ ʌp | US: ˈfɑːloʊ ʌp

Definition

  1. n. an action or thing that continues or reinforces a previous one

  2. n. a subsequent examination or review

  3. adj. designed to follow or monitor progress

Structure
follow <pursue, track>up <upward, completion>
Etymology

The word "follow-up" emerged in the early 20th century, combining "follow" (from Old English folgian, meaning "to accompany or pursue") and "up" (from Old English upp, indicating direction or completion). The compound reflects the idea of pursuing something to its conclusion or ensuring continuity, often used in medical, business, and journalistic contexts to denote subsequent actions or evaluations.

Examples

  1. The doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment to monitor the patient's recovery.

  2. The marketing team sent a follow-up email to potential clients.

  3. This study is a follow-up to earlier research on climate change.

  4. After the interview, she wrote a follow-up letter thanking the panel.

  5. The teacher provided follow-up exercises to reinforce the lesson.