ENGLISH
REFERENCE

applaud

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //əˈpɫɔd// UK //ɐplˈɔːd// ap·plaud Archaic

v. to clap your hands together to show that you like a performance or an idea. You can also use it to say you think someone's choice or action is good.

v. to express approval or praise by clapping the hands; to formally commend a person or action. Transitive when expressing praise for a specific decision; intransitive when describing the physical act of clapping.


SIMPLE

The audience began to applaud as the music ended.

CONTEXTUAL

Many local leaders applaud the government's decision to build a new park in the city center.

COMPLEX

While the critics were quick to applaud the director's bold visual style, they remained skeptical of the film's confusing and disjointed narrative.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English applauden, from Latin applaudere (“to clap the hands together, applaud”), from ad (“to”) + plaudere (“to strike, clap”).

Usage

The verb is often used figuratively to mean 'praise' or 'support'.

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