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 of applause

• 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

Your muscles may get the applause, but the old bones may deserve more than a bit of the credit. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

Absolom stood on stage with his onscreen father and co-star Cara Delevigne, and afterwards was lofted into the air by the duo as a misty-eyed audience showered the group with applause. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026

After Pan announced that Kiley had called him to concede, the attendees at his election night event at Frends Brewhouse erupted into joyful screams, applause and eventually chanted his name. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Amid applause on election night, Hinojosa pointed to the millions of dollars that were spent on ads attacking her. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

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
• bylaws
• caspase
• choctaws
• danaus
• diapause
• outlaws
• rickshaws
• subclause
• tawas
• withdraws
• ahs

Kids Definition

applause

noun

ap·​plause ə-ˈplȯz 

: approval shown especially by clapping the hands