1
: marked commendation : acclaim
the kind of applause every really creative writer wants—
Robert Tallant
Robert Tallant2
: approval publicly expressed (as by clapping the hands)
a round of applause
Synonyms
Examples of applause in a Sentence
The announcement was greeted with applause and cheers.
a design for a memorial for the victims of the attack that has received nothing but applause from officials, commentators, and the general public
Recent Examples on the Web
The brief applause, though, was the first and last time the TikTok phenom (157 million followers and counting) had the spotlight.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2025
The outgoing chief executive saved his applause for Trump’s mention of the release Sunday by Hamas of three Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement that took months to negotiate.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
As social media exploded with condemnation and some applause for the world’s richest man’s gesture, there was also some speculation that Musk’s movement was more like that of an Imperial Roman general in the Gladiator mode.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
Once the hearing was over and two deputies escorted Wilson out of the courtroom, Dakota’s supporters broke into cheers, applause and hugs.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for applause 
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Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2025
The outgoing chief executive saved his applause for Trump’s mention of the release Sunday by Hamas of three Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement that took months to negotiate.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
As social media exploded with condemnation and some applause for the world’s richest man’s gesture, there was also some speculation that Musk’s movement was more like that of an Imperial Roman general in the Gladiator mode.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
Once the hearing was over and two deputies escorted Wilson out of the courtroom, Dakota’s supporters broke into cheers, applause and hugs.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for applause
Articles Related to applause
Dictionary Entries Near applause
Cite this Entry
“Applause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applause. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
applause
noun
ap·plause
ə-ˈplȯz 
: approval shown especially by clapping the hands
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