Following vs. Next: What's the Difference?

Following and Next Definitions
Following
Coming next in time or order
In the following chapter.
Next
Nearest in space or position; adjacent
The next room.
Following
Now to be enumerated
The following people will report for duty.
Next
Immediately following, as in time, order, or sequence
Next week.
The next item on the list.
Following
Blowing in the same direction as the course of a ship or aircraft. Used of wind.
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Next
In the time, order, or place nearest or immediately following
Reading this book next.
Our next oldest child.
Following
A group or gathering of admirers, adherents, or disciples
A lecturer with a large following.
Next
On the first subsequent occasion
When next I write.
Following
The item or items to be mentioned next
Please buy the following.
Next
The next person or thing
The next will be better.
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Following
Subsequent to; after
Following dinner, brandy was served in the study.
Next
In place or position, having nothing similar intervening; adjoining.
The man in the next bunk kept me awake all night with his snoring.
She lives a mile or two away, in the next village.
Following
Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
See the following section.
Next
(obsolete) Most direct, or shortest or nearest in distance or time.
Following
About to be specified.
The following words have no definition...
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Next
Nearest in order, succession, or rank; immediately following (or sometimes preceding) in order.
Please turn to the next page.
On Wednesday next, I'm going to Spain.
The next chapter; the next week; the Sunday next before Easter
The man was driven by his love for money and his desire to become the next Bill Gates.
Following
(of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.
The following wind sped us on our way.
Next
Nearest in relationship. next of kin.}}
Next friend
Following
After, subsequent to.
Following the meeting, we all had a chat.
Next
Denotes the one immediately following the current or most recent one.
Next week would be a good time to meet.
I'll know better next time.
Following
A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
He had a loyal following.
Next
(of days of the week or months of the year) Closest in the future, or closest but one if the closest is very soon; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) in the future.
The party is next Tuesday; that is, not tomorrow, but eight days from now.
When you say next Thursday, do you mean Thursday this week or Thursday next week?
Following
Vocation; business; profession.
Next
In a time, place, rank or sequence closest or following.
They live in the next closest house.
It's the next best thing to ice cream.
Following
(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.
Next
(conjunctive) So as to follow in time or sequence something previously mentioned.
First we removed all the handles; next, we stripped off the old paint.
Following
Present participle of follow
Next
On the first subsequent occasion.
Financial panic, earthquakes, oil spills, riots. What comes next?
When we next meet, you'll be married.
Following
One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively.
Next
On the side of; nearest or adjacent to; next to.
Following
Vocation; business; profession.
Next
The one that follows after this one.
Next, please, don't hold up the queue!
One moment she was there, the next she wasn't.
The week after next
Following
Next after; succeeding; ensuing; as, the assembly was held on the following day.
Next
Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening.
Her princely guestWas next her side; in order sat the rest.
Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way.
Following
In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars are apparently moving (in consequence of the earth's rotation); as, a small star, north following or south following. In the direction toward which stars appear to move is called preceding.
Next
Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.
Following
A group of followers or enthusiasts
Next
Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order.
None could tell whose turn should be the next.
Following
The act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture;
The culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit
Next
Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next heir was an infant.
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
Following
Going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction;
The crowd of following cars made the occasion seem like a parade
Tried to outrun the following footsteps
Next
In the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding; as, this man follows next.
Following
In the desired direction;
A following wind
Next
Nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space;
Had adjacent rooms
In the next room
The person sitting next to me
Our rooms were side by side
Following
Immediately following in time or order;
The following day
Next in line
The next president
The next item on the list
Next
(of elected officers) elected but not yet serving;
Our next president
Following
About to be mentioned or specified;
The following items
Next
Immediately following in time or order;
The following day
Next in line
The next president
The next item on the list
Next
At the time or occasion immediately following;
Next the doctor examined his back