Word
acclaim
Phoneticsac·claim, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈkɫeɪm/
UK/ɐklˈeɪm/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. strong praise and approval from a lot of people. It is often used when a famous person or a piece of art gets great reviews.
n. enthusiastic and public praise or approval. Often associated with artistic, academic, or political achievement.
Examples
“The new film received great critical acclaim.”
“The young diplomat returned home to wide acclaim after successfully negotiating the peace treaty.”
“Despite the initial controversy surrounding its brutalist design, the new library eventually won international acclaim for its innovative use of natural light and sustainable materials.”
Examples
simple
“The new film received great critical acclaim.”
contextual
“The young diplomat returned home to wide acclaim after successfully negotiating the peace treaty.”
complex
“Despite the initial controversy surrounding its brutalist design, the new library eventually won international acclaim for its innovative use of natural light and sustainable materials.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'critical acclaim' or following the verbs 'receive', 'win', or 'earn'.
Real-World Examples
“Law then appeared with Emma – playing mother and daughter – in The Winter Guest, Alan Rickman’s feature film directing debut, which won considerable acclaim.” “He scored a No 1 with She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles)
“Gary Stewart is a superhero,” says Davis, the Kentucky-born singer-songwriter whose 2025 album New Threats from the Soul won wide acclaim.” Etymology
* First attested in the early 14th century. * (to applaud): First attested in the 1630s. * Borrowed from Latin acclāmō (“raise a cry at; applaud”), formed from ad- + clāmō (“cry out, shout”).
* First attested in 1667.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/acclaim