to check on something or do something extra after an earlier action, to make sure everything is finished or to get more information.
I emailed the company last week and plan to follow up if I don't hear back soon.
A: Did you call the doctor about your test results? B: Not yet, but I'll follow up this afternoon.
In my last job, I often had to follow up with clients to make sure they were satisfied with our service.
Common mistake
✗Let me follow up about it next week.
✓Let me follow up on it next week.
'Follow up ON something' / 'follow up WITH someone'.
Tell it apart
I'll follow up on the order.
check on its progress
I'll follow up with the supplier.
contact them again
Use 'follow up' when you want to check progress, get more details, or make sure something is completed. Often used in work, study, or health situations.Not the same as just 'follow', which means to go after or pay attention to something.
to investigate or pursue information, leads, or suspicions in a determined and sustained way, especially in professional, journalistic, or investigative contexts.
The journalist decided to follow up on the anonymous tip, spending weeks tracking down sources and documents.
A: Did you ever find out what happened with that case? B: Not yet, but I'm following up on a few promising leads. It's taking longer than I expected.
In investigative journalism, it is crucial to follow up on every potential lead, no matter how minor it may initially appear.
Common mistake
✗The journalist followed up to the tip.
✓The journalist followed up the tip.
'Follow up a lead/tip' (transitive) — or 'follow up on'.
Tell it apart
Detectives followed up every lead.
chased up each piece of information
Detectives followed the suspect home.
physically trailed them
This sense is common in professional, journalistic, or investigative contexts, where it means to keep searching for more information or to pursue a lead with determination. It suggests a more active and sustained effort than the basic sense of checking or asking for updates.Unlike the B1 sense, which is about checking or taking further action to complete something, this sense emphasizes persistent and determined pursuit of information, often in the context of investigations or journalism.