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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During the In Memoriam segment, the starry audience applauded loudly as Loni Anderson, Michelle Trachtenberg, George Wendt, John Amos and Maggie Smith were honored, and when Ozzy Osbourne, David Lynch and Quincy Jones' names appeared, the applause was particularly loud. Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 She was met with thundering applause from the audience. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025 Hatton was a famous Manchester City supporter and the club held a minute’s applause before Sunday’s Manchester Derby with players also wearing black armbands in remembrance of the boxer. Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani acknowledges applause during the presentation of Emporio Armani's Fall-Winter 2023-2024 Women's collection on February 23, 2023 during the Fashion Week in Milan. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for applause

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Applause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applause. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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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