laud
verb (used with object)
to praise; extol.
laud
1 American
[lawd]
/ lɔd /
verb (used with object)
-
lauds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lauded,
past participle, past
-
lauding
present participle
noun
-
a song or hymn of praise.
-
(used with a singular or plural verb) lauds, a canonical hour, marked especially by psalms of praise, usually recited with matins.
Laud
2
American
[lawd]
/ lɔd /
noun
laud
1
British
/ lɔːd /
verb
noun
Laud
2
British
/ lɔːd /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
laudsimple
-
laudssimple
-
have laudedperfect
-
has laudedperfect
-
am laudingprogressive
-
are laudingprogressive
-
is laudingprogressive
-
have been laudingperfect progressive
-
has been laudingperfect progressive
Past
-
laudedsimple
-
had laudedperfect
-
was laudingprogressive
-
were laudingprogressive
-
had been laudingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of laud
First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English lauden, from Latin laudāre “to praise,” derivative of laus (stem laud- ) “praise”; (noun) Middle English laude, back formation from laudes (plural), from Late Latin, special use of plural of Latin laus “praise”
Explanation
To laud someone means to praise them extravagantly — usually in a very public manner. A music critic might laud a new song by calling it the best summer anthem ever created. The word laud is from the Latin word laudere, meaning "to praise.” To laud someone is to glorify them, or to sing their praises, even if you’re not actually singing. Movie reviewers might laud Oscar-nominated films, and your high school principal might laud the class valedictorian at graduation.
Vocabulary lists containing laud
Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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This Week in Pop Culture: December 1 - 7, 2018
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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:
In the 20th century, Vladimir Lenin would laud Herzen for “raising the banner of revolution” against an oppressive czarist regime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
I was upset that I’d never be able to thank her, to laud her for pushing students out of their comfort zones by showing them documentaries that were not easily palatable.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
White House spokesman Kush Desai was quick to laud the growth rate, saying it was "driven by an astonishing surge in business investment."
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
Their promotional video shows Māori performing a traditional poi dance and the haka, a ceremonial war dance, as project leaders laud the “complete partnership” between Māori and Colossal Biosciences.
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2025
Polybius, interestingly, can’t bring himself to laud the monarch’s generosity as much as to credit the Rhodians for publicizing their plight so effectively!
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
There’s the Monster Raving Loony Party, established in 1982, which has now run in 11 general elections and is currently headed by someone calling himself Howling Laud Hope.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026
His fellow party candidates are called Baron von Thunderclap and Howling Laud Hope.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Howling Laud Hope, the leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, has previously stood in 37 parliamentary elections since 1983.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
That isn’t including those who think it’s time Count Binface or Howling Laud Hope was given his chance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
The boat grounds, and Laud and his future master are seated in the stern.
From The History of Margaret Catchpole A Suffolk Girl by Richard Cobbold
February 2025: Buffett lauds Gates’s management abilities in his final letter to shareholders as Berkshire’s CEO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Venegas lauds her mother for “moving through life with joy and a melody,” and as a source of encouragement.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
Eduardo Sanchez lauds the company’s economic impact and is hesitant to criticize the smelter.
From Salon ● May 10, 2026
A post on Morningstar’s website lauds the fund for its “time-tested approach and accomplished lead manager.”
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
It lauds the energy of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce which conducted a successful lobby in Washington city during the anxious months while the Alaska railway bill hung fire in Congress.
From A Hundred and Sixty Books by Washington Authors Some Other Writers Who are Contributors to Periodical Literature, Lines Worth Knowing by Heart by Various
She had to battle to be allowed to compete at high levels, and faced hostility at times from other competitors and fans, but is now lauded for her perseverance.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The stiffest competition comes on the wing, where the Lakers lauded their depth between offseason additions Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Williams, rookie Cameron Carr and progressing second-year forward Adou Thiero.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
When she played “Both Sides Now” live at the Grammys in 2024, her performance was lauded as one of the best of the night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Patel angrily rejected the allegations during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and lauded the FBI's record in reducing violent crime, fighting drug trafficking and prosecuting fraud.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
If I had been born a Native American in another time, I might have been lauded as a medicine man.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
A few thanked me with national clips lauding my virtual teaching venture.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
The ritzy neighbourhood was made globally famous by K-pop star Psy's 2012 hit single "Gangnam Style" -- lauding the lifestyles of its ultra-rich residents.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Uncharacteristically, Trump largely stuck to a script, making no mention of policy disagreements with Downing Street and lauding the long ties between the US and Britain.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
Previous marketing has included outdoor displays mocking the web’s “I’m not a robot” captcha tests and a campaign lauding humanity’s advances like the invention of the airplane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
I praised the response as “magnificent” to the press, lauding our people for “defying unprecedented intimidation by the state.”
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
