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Later vs Following - What's the difference?

later | following |

As a verb later

is .

As an adjective following is

coming next, either in sequence or in time.

As a preposition following is

after, subsequent to.

As a noun following is

a group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.

later

English

Adverb

(head)
  • (late)
    • You came in late yesterday and today you came in even later .
  • Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
    • My roommate arrived first. I arrived later .
    I arrived later than my roommate.
  • At some unspecified time in the future.
    • I wanted to do it now, but I'll have to do it later .

    Antonyms

    * earlier

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (late)
    • Jim was later than John.
  • Coming afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
    • The Victorian era is a later period of English history than the Elizabethan era.
  • At some time in the future.
    • The meeting was adjourned to a later date.

    Antonyms

    * earlier

    Interjection

    (head)
  • (slang) See you later; goodbye.
    • Later , dude.
  • (slang) Dismissive term to minimize importance of an annoying persons.
    • Frequently used with "for you". "Later for you."

    Derived terms

    * later days * later on * save for later * sooner or later

    Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * * * * * 200 English basic words ----

    following

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
  • * 1835 , Sir , 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.
  • About to be specified.
  • (of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.

    • Usage notes

    (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 .

    Antonyms

    * abovementioned * aforementioned * aforesaid

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • After, subsequent to.
    • Following the meeting, we all had a chat.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
    • He had a loyal following .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Jon Smith , title=Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=And White Hart Lane was stunned when Rovers scored just five minutes after the restart in front of their away following .}}
  • Something to be mentioned immediately later. Used with the definite article the .
    • The following is a recommendation letter from the president.
  • Vocation; business; profession.

    • Statistics

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