Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ensue

/ɪnˈsuː/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.91 in modern English

Syllables: en-sue
IPA: /ɪnˈsuː/

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To follow (a leader, inclination etc.).

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To follow (in time), to be subsequent to.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To occur afterwards, as a result or effect.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"to ripenesse of mans state they grew: / Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood, / They loued armes, and knighthood did ensew, / Seeking aduentures [...]."
"To ensue his example in doynge the like mischiefe."
"Oh how many changes are like to ensue this reformation!"
"Give three freshmen six bottles of wine, and hilarity will ensue."
"After ſo bad a beginning, whats like to inſue?"
"Nor, having married coach and bogie design successfully, does it follow that good riding will ensue, whatever the track carrying it—as the performance of B.R. standard coaches on flat-bottom, concrete-sleepered track bears witness."

Etymology

From Old French ensu-, stem of some conjugated forms of ensuivre (“follow close upon, come afterward”) (French ensuivre), from Latin īnsequere, from īnsequi (“to pursue, follow, follow after; come next”), from in- (“upon”) (see in-) + sequi (“follow”) (see sequel).

Word Breakdown

Root: *sekʷ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈsuː/
British English: /ɪnˈsjuː/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ensues (present, singular) ensuing (participle, present) ensued (participle, past) ensued (past) insue (alternative, archaic)

Derived Forms

ensuable

Synonyms

carry out follow pursue come after arise result

Rhymes With

to you do who to-do new two too through few true due

Questions

How do you pronounce ensue?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈsuː/.
What does ensue mean?: To follow (a leader, inclination etc.).
Where does ensue come from?: From Old French ensu-, stem of some conjugated forms of ensuivre (“follow close upon, come afterward”) (French ensuivre), from Latin īnsequere, from īnsequi (“to pursue, follow, follow after; come next”), from in- (“upon”) (see in-) + sequi (“follow”) (see sequel).

How to pronounce ensue

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