acclaim

[ uh-kleym ]
See synonyms for acclaim on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to welcome or salute with shouts or sounds of joy and approval; applaud: to acclaim the conquering heroes.

  2. to announce or proclaim with enthusiastic approval: to acclaim the new king.

verb (used without object)
  1. to make acclamation; applaud.

Origin of acclaim

1
From the Latin word acclāmāre, dating back to 1630–40. See ac-, claim

Other words from acclaim

  • ac·claim·er, noun
  • re·ac·claim, verb (used with object)
  • un·ac·claimed, adjective

Words Nearby acclaim

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use acclaim in a sentence

  • In the meantime, amid feasts and clamorous acclaim, Gent came slowly north with his staff of secretaries.

    The Red City | S. Weir Mitchell
  • You would have all—the love of my wife, the rule of my folk, as well as the acclaim of these city swine.

    Joan of the Sword Hand | S(amuel) R(utherford) Crockett
  • The Cæsar was a fugitive and a coward, and the people who had the upper hand were prepared to acclaim the hero of their choice.

    "Unto Caesar" | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
  • Many were too full for utterance; they broke down in tears with their first attempt to join in the general acclaim.

  • Then all the knights of Cornwall gave loud acclaim that their knight had borne himself so well in those encounters.

British Dictionary definitions for acclaim

acclaim

/ (əˈkleɪm) /


verb
  1. (tr) to acknowledge publicly the excellence of (a person, act, etc)

  2. to salute with cheering, clapping, etc; applaud

  1. (tr) to acknowledge publicly that (a person) has (some position, quality, etc): they acclaimed him king

noun
  1. an enthusiastic approval, expression of enthusiasm, etc

Origin of acclaim

1
C17: from Latin acclāmāre to shout at, shout applause, from ad- to + clamāre to shout

Derived forms of acclaim

  • acclaimer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012