follow vs check up on

follow and check up on both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
follow	No	No	Yes	No
check up on	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, check up on is a hypernym of follow; that is, check up on is a word with a broader meaning than follow:

Other hypernyms of follow include check, check into, check out, check over, go over, look into, suss out.

follow (verb)	check up on (verb)
behave in accordance or in agreement with	examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
keep informed
keep to
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
grasp the meaning
imitate in behavior; take as a model
perform an accompaniment to
to travel behind, go after, come after
travel along a certain course
follow in or as if in pursuit
keep under surveillance
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
to subscribe to someone's updates on social media
to be subscribed to updates from another user on social media
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
be the successor (of)
follow with the eyes or the mind
work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
adhere to or practice
be later in time
come after in time, as a result
be next
to bring something about at a later time than
to be the product or result
come as a logical consequence; follow logically