following

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɑloʊɪŋ/

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• Hyphenation: fol‧low‧ing

following (not comparable)

1. Coming next, either in sequence or in time.

   See the following section.

   • 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5

     Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.

2. About to be specified.

   The following words have no definition […]

3. (of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.

   The following wind sped us on our way.

(Senses 1, 2) When it modifies a noun phrase, it is generally preceded by the definite article the, and the combination functions as a determiner rather than a simple adjective. You can put it before a cardinal like the following two remarks instead of the two following remarks.

• (coming next): succeeding; see also Thesaurus:subsequent
• (about to be specified): undermentioned

• (coming next): preceding; see also Thesaurus:former
• (about to be specified): abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid

following

1. After, subsequent to.

   Following the meeting, we all had a chat.

following (plural followings)

1. A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.

   He had a loyal following.

   • 2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport‎:

     And White Hart Lane was stunned when Rovers scored just five minutes after the restart in front of their away following.

2. Vocation; business; profession.
3. (with definite article, treated as singular or plural) A thing or things to be mentioned immediately after.

   The following is a recommendation letter from the president.

   The following are the three most important questions.

following

1. present participle of follow