Phrase guide

follow suit

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: card-games, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To follow an example; to imitate or copy the actions of another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If you are not sure of the proper etiquette, watch what others do and follow suit.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

do what someone else is doing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: imitate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

44 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 跟牌 (gēnpái) — play a card of the same suit
  • Danish: bekende — play a card of the same suit
  • Danish: bekende kulør — play a card of the same suit
  • Esperanto: kartumi samembleme — play a card of the same suit
  • Esperanto: samemblemi — play a card of the same suit
  • Finnish: tunnustaa maata — play a card of the same suit
  • French: fournir — play a card of the same suit
  • German: bedienen — play a card of the same suit
  • Hungarian: színre színt rak/tesz — play a card of the same suit
  • Polish: grać kartę tego samego koloru — play a card of the same suit
  • Polish: zagrać kartę tego samego koloru — play a card of the same suit
  • Portuguese: jogar uma carta do mesmo naipe — play a card of the same suit
  • Russian: сходить в масть (sxoditʹ v mastʹ) — play a card of the same suit
  • Russian: сыграть в масть (sygratʹ v mastʹ) — play a card of the same suit
  • Spanish: arrastrar — play a card of the same suit
  • Swedish: bekänna färg — play a card of the same suit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 學樣 /学样 (xuéyàng) — follow an example
  • Chinese Mandarin: 隨之仿效 /随之仿效 (suí zhī fǎngxiào) — follow an example
  • Danish: følge trop — follow an example
  • Esperanto: postlaŭi — follow an example
  • Finnish: matkia — follow an example
  • Finnish: seurata esimerkkiä — follow an example
  • Finnish: noudattaa esimerkkiä — follow an example
  • Finnish: imitoida — follow an example
  • Finnish: jäljitellä — follow an example
  • French: emboîter le pas — follow an example
  • French: en prendre de la graine — follow an example
  • German: es jemandem gleichtun — follow an example
  • Hungarian: követi a példáját — follow an example
  • Hungarian: ugyanúgy tesz — follow an example
  • Hungarian: ugyanazt teszi — follow an example
  • Italian: prendere esempio — follow an example
  • Japanese: 先例に倣う (senrē ni narau) — follow an example
  • Polish: naśladować — follow an example
  • Polish: iść za przykładem — follow an example
  • Polish: pójść za przykładem — follow an example
  • Portuguese: imitar — follow an example
  • Portuguese: seguir o exemplo (de) — follow an example
  • Russian: подражать (podražatʹ) — follow an example
  • Spanish: seguir el ejemplo de — follow an example
  • Spanish: continuar proporcionalmente — follow an example
  • Spanish: hacer lo mismo — follow an example
  • Thai: ทําตาม — follow an example
  • Thai: กระทําตาม — follow an example