ENSUE Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ensue' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ensue are follow , succeed , and supervene . While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development. // after the talk a general discussion ensued

Q: When can 'follow' be used instead of 'ensue'?

In some situations, the words follow and ensue are roughly equivalent. However, follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence. // speeches followed the dinner

Q: When might 'succeed' be a better fit than 'ensue'?

The meanings of succeed and ensue largely overlap; however, succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank. // she succeeded her father as head of the business

Q: When would 'supervene' be a good substitute for 'ensue'?

Although the words supervene and ensue have much in common, supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable. // unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

ensue

verb

Definition of ensue next

as in to follow

to come at a later time; to happen as a result When the news broke, a long period of chaos ensued.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ensue different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ensue are follow, succeed, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

When can follow be used instead of ensue?

In some situations, the words follow and ensue are roughly equivalent. However, follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

When might succeed be a better fit than ensue?

The meanings of succeed and ensue largely overlap; however, succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank.

she succeeded her father as head of the business

When would supervene be a good substitute for ensue?

Although the words supervene and ensue have much in common, supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ensue Prior to the pandemic and the ensuing line-setting scrutiny, The Massey-Peabody rankings averaged the value of home field at 2.4 points. —

Ben Fawkes, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 Men are scalped, women are executed, and kids are hurt bad enough for their ensuing recovery to be seen as torture. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025 The ensuing campaign was drawn along classic good-versus-evil lines. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Jabbar, who was well-armed, was killed in the ensuing shootout with police, two of whom were wounded. —

The Editors, National Review, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ensue

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensue

Verb

While the show follows the Howey novels fairly closely, things develop differently; genders are flipped, and deaths happen in different ways.

Barry Levitt, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
It's followed by Jūrmala, Latvia, Košice, Slovakia, and Freiburg in Germany, rounding out the top five.

Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2025