applause
Applause is the sound of people clapping their hands to show they like something.
Explanation at your level:
Applause is when many people clap their hands. You do this when you are happy at the end of a movie or a show. It means 'I like this!'
When you watch a concert, you clap your hands. This sound is called applause. It is a way to say 'Thank you' to the person on stage. People use it to show they are happy.
Applause is the sound of people clapping to show they approve of something. You might hear 'thunderous applause' at a theater. It is a common way to show support for a speaker or a performer in public.
The noun applause refers to the act of clapping to express appreciation. It is often used in collocations like 'receive applause' or 'deserve a round of applause.' It is a standard term in both entertainment and formal public events.
At an advanced level, applause signifies more than just physical clapping; it acts as a metaphor for public validation. In political or academic discourse, it represents the collective endorsement of an idea. Understanding the nuance between 'polite applause' and 'spontaneous applause' is key to grasping the social dynamics of an audience.
Applause functions as a cultural barometer. Etymologically rooted in the Latin applaudere, it has evolved into a sophisticated signifier of social consensus. In high-level literary or critical contexts, it may be used to discuss the performative nature of public approval, where the absence or presence of applause dictates the success of a rhetorical or artistic endeavor. It is a mass noun that carries significant weight in formal evaluation.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Applause is the sound of clapping.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- It signifies approval or praise.
- Commonly used with 'round of' or 'thunderous'.
When you see a great performance, what do you do? You clap! Applause is the noun we use to describe that collective sound of clapping hands. It is the universal language of saying 'well done' or 'I enjoyed that.'
Beyond just a theater setting, applause can be used more abstractly. If a politician gives a speech, the crowd might offer applause to show they agree with the policy. It is a powerful way to show group consensus and positive reinforcement.
The word applause travels back to the Latin word applaudere, which literally means 'to strike upon' or 'to clap'. It combines ad- (to) and plaudere (to clap).
Interestingly, plaudere is also the root of the word plaudit, which is a formal word for praise. Throughout history, applause has been the standard way for audiences to bridge the gap between the performer and the observer, evolving from simple hand-clapping to a complex social ritual of validation.
You will most often hear applause used with verbs like receive or break into. For example, 'The singer received thunderous applause.' It is a mass noun, meaning we don't usually say 'an applause'—we just say 'the applause' or 'some applause.'
In formal contexts, like a business meeting or a graduation, you might hear about 'polite applause' versus 'standing applause.' The register is generally neutral to formal, fitting perfectly in any public speaking or artistic context.
1. Round of applause: A short period of clapping. 'Let's give him a big round of applause!'
2. Thunderous applause: Very loud and enthusiastic clapping. 'The ending of the play was met with thunderous applause.'
3. Deserve a round of applause: To be worthy of praise. 'You really deserve a round of applause for your hard work.'
4. To break into applause: To start clapping suddenly. 'The audience broke into applause as soon as she finished.'
5. Applause meter: A device or method used to measure how loud the crowd is cheering.
Applause is an uncountable noun. This means you never say 'applauses.' Instead, use 'a round of applause' if you need to count it.
Pronunciation-wise, it sounds like uh-PLAWZ. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like pause, laws, cause, and jaws. Remember that the 'au' makes a long 'aw' sound, not an 'ah' sound.
Fun Fact
It originally meant to strike or beat something.
Pronunciation Guide
uh-PLAWZ
uh-PLAWZ
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'l' too hard
- stressing the first syllable
- adding an 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
medium
medium
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Uncountable Nouns
Applause is uncountable.
Collocations
Round of applause.
Verb-Noun Pairs
Receive applause.
Examples by Level
The show is over, and the audience starts the applause.
show/end/people/clap
singular noun
The kids like the show.
They clap their hands.
I hear the applause.
Everyone is happy.
The play is good.
We give applause.
The show ends now.
The applause lasted for five minutes.
She received a lot of applause.
We gave him a round of applause.
The applause was very loud.
They broke into applause.
The applause stopped suddenly.
I enjoyed the applause.
The speaker waited for the applause.
The audience erupted in applause.
He deserved a round of applause for his effort.
The play was met with polite applause.
There was a moment of silence before the applause.
She was moved by the warm applause.
The applause died down slowly.
We gave the team a round of applause.
His speech received thunderous applause.
The candidate was greeted with sustained applause.
The proposal was met with enthusiastic applause from the board.
Despite the flaws, the performance earned genuine applause.
He thrives on the applause of the crowd.
The applause was a clear sign of their approval.
She acknowledged the applause with a modest bow.
The room was filled with the sound of applause.
The applause signaled the end of the presentation.
The policy change was met with unexpected applause from the opposition.
Her intellectual contribution was greeted with a round of applause.
The subtle irony of the play did not prevent the audience from offering enthusiastic applause.
He interpreted the lack of applause as a sign of disapproval.
The spontaneous applause reflected the public's deep connection to the message.
The orator paused to allow the applause to subside.
The collective applause served as a form of social validation.
The project's success was confirmed by the thunderous applause of the investors.
The performative nature of the applause suggested a rehearsed consensus rather than genuine sentiment.
His career was defined by the relentless pursuit of public applause.
The silence that followed was more deafening than the preceding applause.
The orchestration of applause is a common tactic in political rallies.
One must distinguish between the applause of the sycophants and the genuine appreciation of the critics.
The cultural significance of applause varies greatly across different societies.
The academic community offered a round of applause for his groundbreaking research.
The applause served as the final verdict on the night's performance.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"round of applause"
a short period of clapping
Give them a round of applause.
neutral"bring the house down"
to receive great applause
Her performance brought the house down.
idiomatic"earn one's spurs"
to prove oneself
He earned his spurs and the applause of his peers.
formal"in the limelight"
receiving public attention
She loves the applause while in the limelight.
neutral"get a hand"
to receive applause
He really got a hand from the audience.
casual"take a bow"
to accept applause
He took a bow after the applause.
neutralEasily Confused
Verb vs Noun
Applaud is the action; applause is the sound.
I applaud you; I give you applause.
Meaning overlap
Praise is verbal; applause is physical.
He gave praise; he gave applause.
Both mean clapping
Ovation is specifically enthusiastic/standing.
He received a standing ovation.
Physical act
Clapping is the action; applause is the result.
His clapping was loud.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + received + applause
She received applause.
Subject + gave + a round of applause + to + person
We gave a round of applause to him.
Applause + followed + the speech
Applause followed the speech.
The + applause + was + adjective
The applause was loud.
Subject + broke into + applause
They broke into applause.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Applause is uncountable.
Do not use the indefinite article.
Use correct verb collocations.
The preposition 'for' is used with applause.
Collocation error.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a stage in your living room.
Native Usage
Use 'round of' to make it countable.
Cultural Insight
It is a sign of respect.
Grammar Shortcut
Never add 's' to applause.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'aw' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid saying 'an applause'.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about events.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E: Always Please People, Listen And Understand, Start Exclaiming!
Visual Association
A theater full of people with hands in the air.
Word Web
Challenge
Clap your hands for 5 seconds and say the word.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to strike upon
Cultural Context
None, universally positive.
Common in theater, graduations, and speeches.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Theater
- The applause was thunderous
- The play ended in applause
- The actors bowed to the applause
Business
- The presentation received applause
- Let's give the team a round of applause
- The board showed their applause
Graduation
- The crowd cheered with applause
- The applause lasted for minutes
- She walked to the stage to applause
Politics
- The policy was met with applause
- The speech received polite applause
- He was interrupted by applause
Conversation Starters
"What was the last show you gave applause to?"
"Do you think applause is always genuine?"
"Have you ever seen a standing ovation?"
"How do you feel when you receive applause?"
"Is applause important in a workplace?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were part of a large applause.
Why do we clap to show approval?
Write about a performance that deserved more applause.
How does it feel to be the person receiving applause?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is an uncountable noun.
No, use 'a round of applause'.
The verb is 'applaud'.
Yes, it almost always means approval.
On the second syllable.
It specifically refers to clapping, but often happens with cheering.
Yes, metaphorically.
Yes, in journalism and literature.
Test Yourself
The audience gives ___ after the show.
Applause is the correct noun.
What is applause?
Applause is clapping.
You can say 'three applauses'.
Applause is uncountable.
Word
Meaning
These are common collocations.
Standard sentence structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Applause is the universal, non-verbal way to show appreciation through the rhythmic sound of clapping hands.
- Applause is the sound of clapping.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- It signifies approval or praise.
- Commonly used with 'round of' or 'thunderous'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a stage in your living room.
Native Usage
Use 'round of' to make it countable.
Cultural Insight
It is a sign of respect.
Grammar Shortcut
Never add 's' to applause.
Example
The audience began to applaud rhythmically as the prima ballerina took her final bow.
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This Word in Other Languages
More Entertainment words
audience
A2A group of people who gather together to watch or listen to a performance, such as a play, concert, or movie. It also refers to the specific group of people who read a book, watch a TV show, or use a product.
movie
A1A story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a theater or on television; a motion picture.
plays
B1As a verb, 'plays' is the third-person singular present form of 'play,' meaning to engage in activity for enjoyment, perform music, or compete in a game. As a noun, it is the plural form of 'play,' referring to dramatic works written for performance on stage.
blockbuster
B2A blockbuster is a book, film, or product that is extremely popular and achieves massive commercial success. It often implies a large production budget and a wide marketing campaign aimed at a broad audience.
animation
C1Animation describes both the technical process of creating moving images from static drawings or models and the quality of being full of life, energy, or excitement. In a C1 context, it often refers to the vivacity and spirit shown in a person's speech or gestures.
arcade
C1An architectural structure consisting of a series of arches supported by columns or piers, often forming a covered walkway. In a modern context, it frequently refers to a commercial establishment containing coin-operated games or a covered passage lined with shops.
monodury
C1A monody is a formal poem or song of lamentation, typically composed for a single voice to mourn the death of a particular person. In a classical context, it refers to an ode sung by a single actor in a Greek tragedy or a musical style featuring a single melodic line.
shows
B1As a verb, 'shows' is the third-person singular form of 'show,' meaning to make something visible or to demonstrate a fact or process. As a noun, it is the plural form of 'show,' referring to multiple entertainment programs, theatrical performances, or public exhibitions.
spotlight
B1A powerful light with a narrow beam that illuminates a specific person or area on a stage. Metaphorically, it refers to the state of being the center of public attention or intense scrutiny.
games
B1Structured activities or competitions played for enjoyment, entertainment, or educational purposes, usually involving rules and interaction. They can range from simple physical play to complex digital simulations or professional sports events.
