acclaim

American  

[uh-kleym] / əˈkleɪm /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make acclamation; applaud.

noun

1. acclamation.

acclaim British  

/ əˈkleɪm /

verb

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

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

3. (tr) to acknowledge publicly that (a person) has (some position, quality, etc)

   they acclaimed him king

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noun

1. an enthusiastic approval, expression of enthusiasm, etc

Other Word Forms

• acclaimer noun
• reacclaim verb (used with object)
• unacclaimed adjective

Etymology

Origin of acclaim

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

Explanation

You know you've hit it big when you earn acclaim, or enthusiastic approval. And when you have achieved "critical acclaim," even the grouchy critics approve of you. The word acclaim comes from the Latin word acclamare, which means to cry out. So it only makes sense that the verb acclaim means to offer enthusiastic praise or applause. "The book was critically acclaimed, but most of the students found it to be stupefyingly boring."

Example Sentences

The band released their first album in 18 years in late 2023, with "Hackney Diamonds" topping the album charts in more than a dozen countries and earning some critical acclaim.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Even “Severance,” which earned critical acclaim and awards recognition after its long-awaited second season, sparked debate among viewers about whether it matched the precision and novelty of its first.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

It certainly also helps that chicken thighs, by wide acclaim, are more difficult to cluck up in the kitchen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Before the scandal came to light, Latchford earned acclaim for books detailing the art of the ancient Khmer Empire, which spanned modern-day Cambodia and much else of Southeast Asia.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Perhaps he had be come frustrated watching his boyhood chum collect accolades and public acclaim for his marvelous engineering while complacently performing atrocious physics.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• acclamation
• applause
• commendation
• kudos
• praise
• rave
• recognition