Applaud: Clapping, and Approving of Something You Did Not See
To applaud is to clap in approval, and also to praise a decision or action in words. The second use is common in formal writing and needs no hands at all.
To applaud is to show approval by clapping. It is also to express approval in words: *we applaud the decision*, said by people who did not clap and were not present.
- To clap. *The audience applauded for three minutes.*
- To praise or approve. *Campaigners applauded the ruling.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | applaud | They applauded loudly. |
| Past | applauded | The move was applauded. |
| Noun | applause | Warm applause. |
| Adjective | applaudable | Rare; use praiseworthy. |
| Related | standing ovation | The audience rose. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The crowd applauded as she crossed the line.The literal sense.
- We applaud the government's decision to publish the data.Formal approval in writing.
- His performance drew sustained applause.The noun.
Applaud, clap, cheer and acclaim
- Clap — the physical act, neutral
- Applaud — clapping as approval, or approval in words
- Cheer — vocal, louder, less formal
- Acclaim — public praise, usually in writing and often lasting
From Latin *applaudere*, to clap the hands together, from *ad* plus *plaudere*, to clap. The same root produced *plaudits* and, by way of a hiss instead of a clap, *explode* — originally to drive an actor off the stage by noise.
Can you applaud someone in writing?
Yes, and it is common in formal statements: *we applaud their courage*. No clapping is implied.
What is the noun for applauding?
Applause, which is uncountable: *there was applause*, not *there were applauses*.