ovation

noun

ova·​tion ō-ˈvā-shən 

1

: an expression or demonstration of popular acclaim especially by enthusiastic applause

received a standing ovation

2

: a ceremony attending the entering of Rome by a general who had won a victory of less importance than that for which a triumph was granted

Synonyms of ovation

• applause

Examples of ovation in a Sentence

He was welcomed by a warm ovation when he came out onto the stage.

received a standing ovation for the masterly performance

Recent Examples on the Web

This audience listened in awed silence, and by the end of the song, everyone around us was crying as well, before jolting upward in a spontaneous standing ovation — one of three. — James Gunn, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026

Verlander took the field for the first inning to another ovation — this one alone on the field as his teammates stayed in the dugout to give him the spotlight. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

After a montage of her work, director Tian Zhuangzhuang and Asian Film Awards Academy chair Wilfred Wong presented the award, and Hui received a standing ovation. — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Ohtani, welcomed back in his first at-bat by a partial standing ovation, walked in his second plate appearance. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin ovation-, ovatio, from ovare to exult; akin to Greek euoi, interjection used in Bacchic revels

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing ovation

• standing ovation

Rhymes for ovation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

ovation

noun

ova·​tion ō-ˈvā-shən 

: a public expression of praise : enthusiastic applause