ovation
Americannoun
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an enthusiastic public reception of a person, marked especially by loud and prolonged applause.
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Roman History. the ceremonial entrance into Rome of a commander whose victories were of a lesser degree of importance than that for which a triumph was accorded.
noun
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an enthusiastic reception, esp one of prolonged applause
a standing ovation
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a victory procession less glorious than a triumph awarded to a Roman general
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ovation
1525–35; < Latin ovātiōn- (stem of ovātiō ) a rejoicing, shouting, equivalent to ovāt ( us ) (past participle of ovāre to rejoice) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Hear that applause and cries of "Bravo"? Your audience is giving you an ovation, or praise for a great performance. The noun ovation has origins in the Latin word ovare, meaning "exult, rejoice, triumph.” Ancient Romans used it to describe a ceremony honoring a general entering Rome following a minor triumph. By the 19th century, ovation had taken on the more specific meaning, "a display of appreciation and applause from an audience." Today, especially great performers get standing ovations, which means the audience rises from their seats as they clap.
Vocabulary lists containing ovation
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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.
He felt how people loved him, the standing ovation from the actions.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
At those prices, “you’d better laugh, give it a standing ovation, applaud, put it on Yelp and Google—the whole works,” said producer and theater communications executive Jay Michaels.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Petrie has already taken her campaign into Edinburgh's city chambers, where she won a standing ovation from councillors.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Saar took to the stage amid a resounding standing ovation, and when she spoke, the crowd’s gaze remained intently on her.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
One by one each team presented their app idea, and once finished, they received a standing ovation.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
