applaud

1 of 2

verb

ap·​plaud ə-ˈplȯd How to pronounce applaud (audio)
applauded; applauding; applauds
Synonyms of applaudnext

intransitive verb

: to express approval especially by clapping the hands
The audience applauded at the end of the performance.

transitive verb

1
: to express approval of : praise
I applaud her efforts to lose weight.
2
: to show approval of especially by clapping the hands
Spectators applauded the team.
applaudable
ə-ˈplȯ-də-bəl How to pronounce applaud (audio)
adjective
applaudably
ə-ˈplȯ-də-blē How to pronounce applaud (audio)
adverb
applauder noun

applaudable

2 of 2

adjective

ap·​plaud·​able ə-ˈplȯ-də-bəl How to pronounce applaudable (audio)
: worthy of being applauded
applaudably
ə-ˈplȯ-də-blē How to pronounce applaudable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of applaud

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of applaud in a Sentence

Verb Everyone applauded the graduates as they entered the auditorium. The audience stood and applauded her performance. We applaud the decision to lower taxes. I applaud their efforts to clean up the city, but they must do more. Rather than being criticized for her honesty, she should be applauded for it.
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.
Verb
Your wife must love that poem and the acknowledgment of the disparity between how men are just, like, acknowledged and applauded for just being a father out in public with their kids and the way women are just expected to be that way. — Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 The Nationals Park crowd then applauded Cavalli, who was trying to throw Washington's first no-hitter since Max Scherzer did it twice in 2015. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Andrew Rigie, executive director of NYC Hospitality Alliance and Counsel Robert Bookman applauded the new program in a joint statement. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 Leaders of several similar operations including Masonicare in Wallingford, Duncaster in Bloomfield and Elim Park in Hamden joined Fairview officials in applauding its growth. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for applaud

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French aplaudir, from Latin applaudere, from ad- + plaudere to applaud

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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

Rhymes for applaud

See All Rhymes for applaud

Browse Nearby Words

appl
applaud
applaudable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Applaud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applaud. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

applaud

verb
ap·​plaud ə-ˈplȯd How to pronounce applaud (audio)
1
: praise sense 1, approve
applaud their efforts
2
: to show approval especially by clapping the hands
applaudable
-ə-bəl How to pronounce applaud (audio)
adjective
applauder noun
Etymology

Verb

from early French aplaudir "to applaud," from Latin applaudere (same meaning), from ap-, ad- "to, toward" and plaudere "to clap" — related to explode, plaudit, plausible see Word History at explode, plausible

More from Merriam-Webster on applaud

Nglish: Translation of applaud for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All