applaud
Americanverb (used without object)
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applauds,
present (3rd person singular)
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applauded,
past participle, past
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applauding
present participle
-
to clap the hands as an expression of approval, appreciation, acclamation, etc..
They applauded wildly at the end of the opera.
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to express approval; give praise; acclaim.
verb (used with object)
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applauds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
applauded,
past participle, past
-
applauding
present participle
-
to clap the hands so as to show approval, appreciation, etc., of.
to applaud an actor; to applaud a speech.
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to praise or express approval of.
to applaud a person's ambition.
verb
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to indicate approval of (a person, performance, etc) by clapping the hands
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(usually tr) to offer or express approval or praise of (an action, person, or thing)
I applaud your decision
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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applaudernoun
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overapplaudverb
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reapplaudverb
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applaudingadjective
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self-applaudingadjective
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unapplaudedadjective
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unapplaudingadjective
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well-applaudedadjective
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applaudinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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applaudsimple
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applaudssimple
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have applaudedperfect
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has applaudedperfect
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am applaudingprogressive
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are applaudingprogressive
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is applaudingprogressive
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have been applaudingperfect progressive
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has been applaudingperfect progressive
Past
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applaudedsimple
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had applaudedperfect
-
was applaudingprogressive
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were applaudingprogressive
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had been applaudingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of applaud
1530–40; < Latin applaudere, equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + plaudere to clap the hands
Explanation
To applaud is to show approval, encouragement, or appreciation. You can applaud by clapping your hands at a performance, or you can applaud with just your mouth, as when you tell someone "I applaud your decision to start exercising." The verb applaud goes back to the Latin verb applaudere, "to clap," and it came into English use in the 15th century. Part of the word applaud is laud, which means "praise," and laud is close in spelling to loud. When you applaud, you give loud praise by clapping you hands together. If you really like what someone is doing and want to pat them on the back for it or show encouragement, you might just say "I applaud your efforts."
Vocabulary lists containing applaud
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act V
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"Casey at the Bat"
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Unit 3, Week 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I applaud this administration,” he said, “provided these measures are implemented responsibly, in good faith, and free of conflicts of interest, corruption, and ulterior motives.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Sanchez echoed Macron's comments, saying if the UK asks to rejoin "then of course Spain would applaud it and open its arms again to a brotherly people".
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
“Let the pregnant women live a little more. We need to just applaud them, praise them and give them a little more respect.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
"In America they applaud people who create wealth," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"I did. And she said, 'Yes, I suppose you're right.' You may applaud now, or throw flowers if you wish."
From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements
Grimes applauds the couple’s thinking about ways to stay in their home should disability strike, and their willingness to contemplate a move into retirement housing if needed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2025
When I arrive at Sudan’s new place for this interview and photo shoot, having heard the vision months earlier while sitting in her old house after a party, my heart applauds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025
"It's like attending your own funeral and even the mourners are like 'woo-hoo!' I can't imagine anything that would be more uncomfortable, standing there while the crowd applauds your opponent."
From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2025
Most researchers in the green electronics field are searching for alternatives to the rare and expensive materials used in electronic circuitry, so Santato applauds Nair and the team for targeting the underlying circuit board instead.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 24, 2024
The audience applauds as, one by one, the judges come over and say “Congratulations!”
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
She finally released her emotionally-charged debut album, My 21st Century Blues, in 2023, which was applauded by critics and peaked at number two in the charts.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
A smaller number of comments applauded the administration’s plan saying that it would “strengthen kindergarten readiness.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Many in the audience laughed and applauded, when they should have gasped or moaned.
From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026
Video published by the Russian government showed trucks from both sides crossing the bridge, as crowds lining the road applauded.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
From the moment he left the barrera and went toward the bull they applauded him.
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
She stood in front of the 2,500 away supporters at Etihad Stadium applauding as they sang "North London Forever" in a somewhat emotional release.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
At the moment of totality, people began applauding.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
She emerged from the weekend with half the media world and a chorus of Hollywood celebrities wildly applauding her bravery.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
Most players who have toiled in the minor league system debut in front of applauding friends and family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Goebbels held his hands over his head applauding wildly.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
