acclaim
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to welcome or salute with shouts or sounds of joy and approval; applaud.
to acclaim the conquering heroes.
-
to announce or proclaim with enthusiastic approval.
to acclaim the new king.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
(tr) to acknowledge publicly the excellence of (a person, act, etc)
-
to salute with cheering, clapping, etc; applaud
-
(tr) to acknowledge publicly that (a person) has (some position, quality, etc)
they acclaimed him king
noun
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing acclaim
Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Unteachables
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Crossover
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As Southampton players enjoyed the acclaim of their fans, and Middlesbrough players looked glass-eyed towards their own, the thought persisted - is this actually the end of this play-off tie?
From BBC • May 13, 2026
Alito is enjoying his moment of acclaim as the voice of the conservative legal movement.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Liam Rosenior's thoughts would have been worth a lot more than a penny as Chelsea's triumphant players took the acclaim of their supporters inside Wembley after reaching the FA Cup final.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
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
It quickly won international acclaim and ran for weeks in London and Paris.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
