applause

noun

ap·​plause ə-ˈplȯz How to pronounce applause (audio)
1
: marked commendation : acclaim
the kind of applause every really creative writer wantsRobert Tallant
2
: approval publicly expressed (as by clapping the hands)
a round of applause

Examples of applause in a Sentence

The announcement was greeted with applause and cheers. a design for a memorial for the victims of the attack that has received nothing but applause from officials, commentators, and the general public
Recent Examples on the Web The crowd - a sellout - erupted in cheers and applause. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 That line drew loud applause from the crowd who had gathered to mark the civil rights event. Erica L. Green, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 After Carpenter sang her cheeky ad-lib lyrics, which included a reference to the famous indoor waterfall inside Singapore's Jewel Changi shopping mall, Keoghan smiled and immediately raised his hands above his head in applause. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 After host Jimmy Fallon played the clip, the crowd erupted into applause while Butler shook his head. Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 As Lola Tung’s Eurydice and Ani DiFranco’s Persephone took the Hadestown stage for the first time on February 9, the audience erupted into deafening applause that kept everyone on their feet for, well, a while. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 The Nikkei's new record was welcomed with applause in some of Tokyo's brokerages, but not the sort of elation that prevailed in 1989. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2024 Dozens of Republican members of the Legislature responded with a hail of applause. Daniel Walters, Idaho Statesman, 15 Feb. 2024 Some moviegoing audiences in Moscow have erupted in applause at the end of screenings, recognizing echoes of Russia’s wartime reality and marveling that the adaptation made it to theaters at all. Paul Sonne, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'applause.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin applausus, from Latin, beating of wings, from applaudere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of applause was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near applause

Cite this Entry

“Applause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applause. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

applause

noun
ap·​plause ə-ˈplȯz How to pronounce applause (audio)
: approval shown especially by clapping the hands

More from Merriam-Webster on applause

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