“Followed by” has several meanings: one event can come after another, one person can succeed another, or someone can physically trail another. The right alternative depends on the relationship you mean.
Best Alternatives by Type of Sequence
- Then
- After
- Next came
- Succeeded by
- With … after it
- Subsequent to
- In the wake of
- Coming after
- Later
- Thereafter
- Trailing
- Tailed by
- Pursued by
- Accompanied by
- And then
Then
The simplest way to show that one action or event comes next.
Example: The report was reviewed, then approved.
After
Works when the sequence can be recast rather than directly replacing the phrase.
Example: After the presentation, there will be questions.
Next came
Useful in narrative or chronological description.
Example: The opening speech ended, and next came the awards.
Succeeded by
Formal and precise when one person, office-holder, item, or period comes after another.
Example: The chair was succeeded by Dr Patel.
With … after it
A flexible construction for ordered lists or events.
Example: The keynote begins at nine, with workshops after it.
Subsequent to
Formal wording meaning after; often heavier than necessary in ordinary prose.
Example: Subsequent to the audit, new controls were introduced.
In the wake of
Means after and often as a consequence of a significant event.
Example: New guidance was issued in the wake of the incident.
Coming after
A plain descriptive phrase for order or position.
Example: The appendix is the final section, coming after the references.
Later
Works when exact adjacency is unimportant and the second event simply occurs afterward.
Example: The team met in May and later published its recommendations.
Thereafter
Formal wording meaning after that point in time.
Example: The licence was renewed annually thereafter.
Trailing
Use for physical position or ranking behind someone or something.
Example: The second cyclist was trailing the leader by ten seconds.
Tailed by
Suggests being closely followed, often by a person or vehicle.
Example: The suspect left the building, tailed by two officers.
Pursued by
Use when the follower is actively chasing the person or thing ahead.
Example: The runner crossed the field pursued by a dog.
Accompanied by
Not a true synonym for sequence; use when something occurs together with another element.
Example: The announcement was accompanied by a detailed briefing.
And then
A natural conversational connector for a simple sequence of events.
Example: We checked the figures and then sent the final version.
Choosing the Best Alternative to “Followed By”
For this list, use the alternatives as context-sensitive options rather than automatic substitutions. The best choice is the one that preserves the intended meaning and sounds natural in the complete sentence; for “15 Alternatives to Followed By,” that often means deciding first which sense or level of formality you need.