Phrasal verb
follow up
Meanings
to contact someone again to ask for an update, confirmation, or response
to take additional action after something has happened in order to continue, complete, or improve it
Definition
To follow up means to take further action to get more information or to continue dealing with something.
When you follow up, you do something additional after an earlier action, message, or event. This is often done to check progress, confirm details, or make sure a task is completed. People commonly follow up with a person by calling, emailing, or meeting again.
Examples
- I’ll follow up with you tomorrow after the meeting.
- Can you follow up on the delivery status this afternoon?
- She followed up by sending the photos she promised.
- They followed up with a quick call to confirm the time.
Common mistake
Learners often say "follow up about" when "follow up on" is more natural for topics or tasks.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.