applause

noun

ap·​plause ə-ˈplȯz 

1

: marked commendation : acclaim

the kind of applause every really creative writer wants

—Robert Tallant

2

: approval publicly expressed (as by clapping the hands)

a round of applause

Synonyms

• ovation

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 press actually broke out in applause. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025

The four men, whose rivalry has spanned 25 years, embraced to the applause of the crowd. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025

The crowd then erupted in applause as Fey and Meyers entered the shot. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2025

Kane returns, Regula pays the price Oilers fans gave Kane a nice applause as he was welcomed back with a scoreboard banner and announcement during the second TV timeout of the first period. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing applause

• round of applause
• self-applause

Rhymes for applause

• because
• byelaws
• bylaws
• caspase
• choctaws
• danaus
• macaws
• outlaws
• rickshaws
• subclause
• tawas
• withdraws

Kids Definition

applause

noun

ap·​plause ə-ˈplȯz 

: approval shown especially by clapping the hands