applaud
To show you like something by clapping your hands or saying nice things.
Explanation at your level:
To applaud means to clap your hands. You do this when you like a show or a song. When the show ends, you clap to say 'thank you' to the people on stage. It is a very happy word!
When someone does a great job, you might applaud them. This means you clap your hands together to show you are happy. You can also say 'I applaud your work' to tell someone they did a good job.
In English, applaud is a formal way to say you agree with something or think it is good. We often use it when talking about public actions. For instance, if a government makes a new rule that helps the environment, people might applaud that decision.
Applaud is frequently used in professional settings to express strong support for a strategy or initiative. It conveys a sense of approval that is more sophisticated than simply saying 'I like it.' It implies that the action or idea has merit and deserves recognition.
At the C1 level, applaud is often used in a figurative sense to acknowledge the success or ethical stance of an individual or organization. It is common in journalistic and academic writing to 'applaud the initiative' or 'applaud the resilience' of a group, suggesting a nuanced appreciation of their efforts.
Mastery of applaud involves understanding its weight in formal discourse. It is not merely a synonym for praise; it carries a sense of validation. When a critic or a peer 'applauds' a work, they are bestowing a level of legitimacy upon it. It is also used in literary contexts to describe the 'silent applause' of onlookers or to contrast with public condemnation.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Applaud means to show approval.
- It can be physical (clapping) or figurative (praising).
- It is a transitive verb.
- It is a great word for professional settings.
When you applaud someone, you are essentially telling them, 'Great job!' While we most commonly think of this as clapping our hands after a concert or a play, the word has a much wider reach.
In a more figurative sense, you can applaud a person's decision or a company's new policy. It is a way of giving a 'thumbs up' to an idea or an action that you believe is worthy of recognition.
Think of it as a bridge between a physical action and a verbal sentiment. Whether you are in a theater or a boardroom, using this word shows that you are acknowledging value and excellence in others.
The word applaud comes to us from the Latin word applaudere. This is a combination of ad- (meaning 'to') and plaudere (meaning 'to clap').
Historically, the Romans were very serious about their theater culture. They had specific ways of showing approval, and plaudere was the root of that physical expression. Over centuries, the word moved through Old French before settling into English around the 16th century.
Interestingly, the word plaudit—which means a round of applause—shares the exact same root. It is fascinating to see how a simple physical action of hitting two hands together evolved into a sophisticated term for expressing public support.
You will hear applaud used in both casual and formal settings. In a casual context, you might say, 'I applaud your effort,' to a friend who tried something new.
In formal writing or business, it is frequently used to express institutional support. For example, 'The board applauds the decision to increase sustainability.' This adds a layer of professional respect.
Common collocations include widely applauded, rightly applauded, and applaud the efforts. Notice that it is almost always used as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (the thing or person being praised) to make sense.
While 'applaud' itself is a standard verb, it is often used in phrases that signal approval. 1. Give a round of applause: To clap for a duration of time. 2. Earn applause: To do something worthy of praise. 3. Deserve a hand: A more casual way to say someone should be applauded. 4. Stand and applaud: To give a standing ovation. 5. Receive accolades: A formal way of saying you were applauded by many.
The word is a regular verb. The past tense is applauded, and the present participle is applauding. IPA: /əˈplɔːd/ (UK) and /əˈplɑːd/ (US).
The stress is on the second syllable: ap-PLAUD. It rhymes with fraud, awed, broad, flawed, and sawed. It is a transitive verb, so you always applaud something or applaud someone.
Fun Fact
The root 'plaudere' is also the root for 'explode' (ex-plaudere), which originally meant to drive someone off the stage by clapping/hissing.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'a-PLAW-d'
Sounds like 'a-PLAH-d'
Common Errors
- stressing the first syllable
- mispronouncing the 'au' sound
- adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read in context
Easy to use in sentences
Commonly used
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I applaud (verb) the effort (object).
Passive Voice
He was applauded.
Adverb Placement
Widely applauded.
Examples by Level
The children applaud the clown.
clown = performer
Subject-Verb-Object
I applaud for you!
for you = to you
Simple present
We applaud the show.
show = performance
Simple sentence
She likes to applaud.
likes to = enjoys
Infinitive
They applaud loudly.
loudly = with sound
Adverb usage
Please applaud now.
now = at this time
Imperative
I applaud the team.
team = group
Direct object
Everyone will applaud.
everyone = all people
Future tense
The audience began to applaud.
I applaud your hard work.
We all stood up to applaud.
The teacher applauded the student.
They applauded the singer.
Did you applaud the speech?
He did not applaud.
The crowd applauded the winner.
I applaud your decision to study abroad.
The company was applauded for its green policy.
She was applauded for her bravery.
Many people applauded the new law.
The critics applauded the director's vision.
He deserves to be applauded.
We applaud the efforts of the volunteers.
The audience applauded the performance.
The international community applauded the peace treaty.
I applaud your commitment to excellence.
Her colleagues applauded her innovative approach.
The board applauded the CEO's transparency.
It is rare to see such widely applauded reforms.
The article applauded the author's honesty.
We applaud the dedication shown by the staff.
He was rightly applauded for his integrity.
The committee applauded the candidate's strategic foresight.
His peers applauded his tireless pursuit of justice.
The manuscript was universally applauded by scholars.
We applaud the courage it took to speak out.
The policy was applauded as a major step forward.
She was applauded for her unwavering resolve.
The artistic community applauded the exhibit.
The movement was applauded for its peaceful nature.
The administration was applauded for its sagacious handling of the crisis.
Critics applauded the film's nuanced exploration of grief.
The initiative was applauded for its far-reaching implications.
The public applauded the leader's magnanimous gesture.
Scholars have long applauded this seminal work.
The decision was applauded by all stakeholders.
The community applauded the restoration of the historic site.
His life's work is widely applauded in academic circles.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"a round of applause"
a period of clapping
Let's give him a round of applause.
neutral"deserve a hand"
should be praised
She really deserves a hand for this.
casual"give someone a big hand"
to clap loudly for someone
Give our guest a big hand!
casual"stand and applaud"
to give a standing ovation
The whole room stood and applauded.
neutral"win applause"
to be successful/praised
His speech won applause from all sides.
formal"receive accolades"
to be honored
She received many accolades for her work.
formalEasily Confused
noun form
applause is the sound/act, applaud is the verb
The applause (noun) was loud; we applaud (verb) the effort.
similar meaning
praise is more general, applaud implies public recognition
I praise your honesty; I applaud your initiative.
formal synonym
acclaim is often used as a noun or verb for public recognition
The film won critical acclaim.
formal usage
commend is more official/authoritative
The judge commended his honesty.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + applaud + object
I applaud your choice.
Subject + be + applauded + for + noun
He was applauded for his bravery.
Subject + applaud + the + noun
They applaud the decision.
Widely + applauded + noun
The widely applauded policy.
Rightly + applauded + by + agent
It was rightly applauded by all.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Applaud is transitive and does not take 'to'.
You applaud the object directly.
Incorrect preposition usage.
Do not use 'at' with applaud.
Again, no preposition needed.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a theater stage and you are the star being applauded.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it when you want to sound more professional than 'I like it'.
Cultural Insight
Clapping is a universal sign of approval in most cultures.
Grammar Shortcut
Think of it like 'praise'—you praise someone, you applaud someone.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'aw' sound in the middle.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid adding 'to' after the verb.
Did You Know?
The root 'plaudere' is related to 'explode'.
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence about a recent news event.
Writing Tip
Use 'widely applauded' to add sophistication.
Speaking Tip
Use it when giving feedback to colleagues.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Applaud: A-PLAUD (A-PLAUD sounds like 'A-PLAUD-it', think of a loud applause).
Visual Association
A theater audience standing up and clapping.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'I applaud your effort' to a friend today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to clap
Cultural Context
None, generally a positive term.
Common at weddings, graduations, and performances.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- applaud the effort
- applaud the initiative
- applaud the results
at school
- applaud the hard work
- applaud the presentation
- applaud the student
in news
- widely applauded
- applaud the move
- applaud the decision
at events
- give a round of applause
- stand and applaud
- applaud the performer
Conversation Starters
"What is something you recently applauded?"
"Do you think public applause is important?"
"How do you feel when you are applauded?"
"Who is someone you think deserves to be applauded?"
"Is it better to applaud in private or public?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you were applauded.
Describe a policy you applaud and why.
Why do we applaud performers?
Who is a leader you applaud?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a verb. The noun is 'applause'.
No, that is incorrect. Just use 'applaud' + object.
Applauded.
It can be used in both formal and informal settings.
Criticize or boo.
No, it can be metaphorical.
Yes, it is a very common verb.
uh-PLAW-d.
Test Yourself
When the show ends, we ___.
We clap at the end of a show.
What does 'applaud' mean?
Applaud means to show approval by clapping.
You can applaud an idea.
Yes, you can figuratively applaud an idea or policy.
Word
Meaning
These are opposites.
Subject-Verb-Object order.
The board ___ the new policy.
The board showed approval.
Applaud is a noun.
Applaud is a verb; applause is the noun.
Which is a synonym?
Extol means to praise highly.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms.
Passive voice construction.
Score: /10
Summary
To applaud is to express your support or praise for someone's actions, whether through clapping or words.
- Applaud means to show approval.
- It can be physical (clapping) or figurative (praising).
- It is a transitive verb.
- It is a great word for professional settings.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a theater stage and you are the star being applauded.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it when you want to sound more professional than 'I like it'.
Cultural Insight
Clapping is a universal sign of approval in most cultures.
Grammar Shortcut
Think of it like 'praise'—you praise someone, you applaud someone.
Example
The crowd began to applaud as the music ended.
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