clap

¹ American  

[klap] / klæp /

verb (used with object)

• claps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clapped,
  past participle,  past
• clapping
  present participle

1. to strike the palms of (one's hands) against one another resoundingly, and usually repeatedly, especially to express approval.

   She clapped her hands in appreciation.

2. to strike (someone) amicably with a light, open-handed slap, as in greeting, encouragement, or the like.

   He clapped his friend on the back.

3. to strike (an object) against something quickly and forcefully, producing an abrupt, sharp sound, or a series of such sounds.

   to clap a book on the table.

4. to bring together forcefully (facing surfaces of the same object).

   She clapped the book shut.

5. to applaud (a performance, speech, speaker, etc.) by clapping the hands.

   The audience clapped the actors at the end of the act.

6. to put or place quickly or forcefully: She clapped her hand over his mouth.

   Can you clap a lid on that jar?

   She clapped her hand over his mouth.

   They clapped him in jail.

7. to make or arrange hastily (often followed by together orup ).

   He clapped together dinner from stuff in the pantry and leftovers from the fridge.

---

verb (used without object)

• claps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clapped,
  past participle,  past
• clapping
  present participle

1. to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud.

   After the audience stopped clapping, the tenor sang two encores.

2. to make an abrupt, sharp sound, as of flat surfaces striking against one another.

   The shutters clapped in the wind.

3. to move or strike with such a sound.

   She clapped across the room in her slippers.

noun

1. an act or instance of clapping.

2. the abrupt, sharp sound produced by clapping.

3. a resounding blow; slap.

4. a loud and abrupt or explosive noise, as of thunder.

5. a sudden stroke, blow, or act.

6. Printing. clapper.

7. Obsolete. a sudden mishap.

verb phrase

1. clap back see clapback.

idioms

1. clap eyes on. eye.

2. clap hold of, to take hold of.

clap ² American  

[klap] / klæp /

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

1. Often the clap gonorrhea.

---

clap ¹ British  

/ klæp /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a sharp abrupt sound, as of two nonmetallic objects struck together

2. to applaud (someone or something) by striking the palms of the hands together sharply

3. (tr) to strike (a person) lightly with an open hand, in greeting, encouragement, etc

4. (tr) to place or put quickly or forcibly

   they clapped him into jail

5. (of certain birds) to flap (the wings) noisily

6. (tr; foll by up or together) to contrive or put together hastily

   they soon clapped up a shed

7. informal to catch sight of

8. informal to grasp suddenly or forcibly

---

noun

1. the sharp abrupt sound produced by striking the hands together

2. the act of clapping, esp in applause

   he deserves a good clap

3. a sudden sharp sound, esp of thunder

4. a light blow

5. archaic a sudden action or mishap

clap ² British  

/ klæp /

noun

1. a slang word for gonorrhoea

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• clapping
  present
• clapped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• clap
  simple
• claps
  simple
• have clapped
  perfect
• has clapped
  perfect
• am clapping
  progressive
• are clapping
  progressive
• is clapping
  progressive
• have been clapping
  perfect progressive
• has been clapping
  perfect progressive

Past

• clapped
  simple
• had clapped
  perfect
• was clapping
  progressive
• were clapping
  progressive
• had been clapping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will clap
  simple
• will have clapped
  perfect
• will be clapping
  progressive
• will have been clapping
  perfect progressive

---

Etymology

Origin of clap¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clappen, Old English clæppan; cognate with Middle Low German kleppen

Origin of clap²

First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Middle French clapoir “bubo,” clapier “brothel,” Old Provençal clapier “warren”

---

Explanation

To clap is to strike your hands together. After an awesome play, an audience will clap and maybe even stand up and hoot. A clap is also any loud or sharp noise or collision, like a clap of thunder. After you see a performance, it's polite to clap — smack your hands together quickly and repeatedly. To clap also means to put something down quickly and with force, like if you clap a plate on a table. Any sharp, loud sound is a clap, like a clap caused by an explosion. Clapping two objects together quickly will cause a clap. All types of claps and clapping involve sharp movements and loud sounds.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clap claps clapped clapping

Whenever things look grim, I remember that David Blake, a guy preparing for a marathon bike trip, not that long ago couldn’t walk, talk or even clap his hands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

All you have to do is clap your hands and believe!

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

With a resounding clap from participants around the room, I came back to reality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

"There was a few people that did clap, but not that many because I think everyone was just relieved to be on the ground," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Then they’d all chant and clap—“Mother Mother, clap clap! Mother Mother, clap clap!” and then the two girls would jump into the air, clapping their hands in rhythm.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Anderson stops at second base, claps his hands four times, then stands there quietly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026

Her poised smile and claps resemble her father’s gestures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 28, 2026

There were claps and cheers from the public as the vote went through.

From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026

Students stand in a circle as an instructor, Rusty Trzpuc, who wears a leather belt imprinted with the word “sold” on the back, claps out a metronomic beat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025

She goes faster and faster, her feet a blur of motion, rolling the ball around the ring as the audience claps and whistles.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Papyrus rolls containing text would be snipped into pieces, which were folded in half and clapped between wooden plates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

"The whole carriage clapped as I got off."

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

“We have the opportunity to do something different in these next 250 years,” she continued as the audience clapped and cheered.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

"In this case, the best option might just be...hotel! That's right, I said it," Chesky added, as Airbnb employees clapped.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

Before she retired, Pani Zuzana sometimes fell asleep in between jobs, so, forgetting that she had retired, I clapped my hands to wake her up.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Philp added: "Zia, read the room, listen to the people clapping and read the room."

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026

In her memoir, Yes Please, she thanks her parents for always clapping when she roller skated in the driveway.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The old halls offered a collective, interactive experience, with fans applauding at the hero's entrance, clapping to romantic songs and shouting at dramatic twists.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

There was a telltale uncanniness to it—people clapping too slowly, as if underwater—but there was no disclaimer that it was fake.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles, hoots and hollers, clapping hands and stomping feet.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• bang
• cheer
• pat
• slap

---