noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of applause
1590–1600; < Latin applausus struck upon, applauded (past participle of applaudere ), equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + plaud- clap + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
After a theatrical performance, audience members typically use applause, or hand-clapping, to express their approval. (Of course, sometimes applause just means the audience is glad it’s time to go home.) Back in ancient Rome, actors requested applause from the audience by declaring “Plaudite!” This fact sheds light on the origin of applause — and it definitively proves that performers have been seeking approval from audiences for millennia. Oddly enough, however, it’s considered inappropriate to applaud between the movements of a piece of classical music, regardless of how much you enjoyed the performance. Some concertgoers choose to defy this rule, in spite of the nasty looks they get from neighbors.
Vocabulary lists containing applause
Academy Awards, List 2
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Spelling Practice, Unit 3
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"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, List 8
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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.
Applause rang out at the Guiana Space Centre after all 32 satellites were successfully deployed, an AFP correspondent reported.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
Applause followed Bueckers all game, but the final word — and the final bucket — belonged to L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025
"Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today's auditions in Blackpool," Applause Store said on Instagram.
From BBC • Oct. 17, 2024
Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote.
From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024
Applause rose from the audience; at the anteroom door, Malcolm X turned and looked back at his young lady assistant.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
