acclaimed

acclaimed — adjective

1. publicly recognized and praised for being excellent, especially because of skill

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

publicly recognized and praised for being excellent, especially because of skill, talent, or high quality in creative or professional work

Example

Diya is an acclaimed filmmaker whose documentaries have won several international awards.

attributive: acclaimed + noun (filmmaker)

The novel was acclaimed by critics from the moment it appeared in bookstores.

predicative: was acclaimed by [agent]

Common collocations
  • widely acclaimed
  • critically acclaimed
  • internationally acclaimed
  • acclaimed by critics
  • acclaimed for something
Synonyms
  • praised

    simpler and less formal; 'praised' can describe any positive comment, while 'acclaimed' suggests widespread expert approval

  • celebrated

    similar in formality; 'celebrated' focuses on fame and renown, while 'acclaimed' emphasizes the quality of the praise received

  • renowned

    similar register; 'renowned' stresses being widely known, whereas 'acclaimed' stresses being enthusiastically praised

Antonyms
  • criticized

    receiving negative instead of positive evaluation

  • unknown

    lacking the public recognition that 'acclaimed' implies

Grammar Patterns

acclaimed + noun (attributive)

be + acclaimed + optional (by/for) phrase

Usage Note

Often used to describe creative achievements such as films, books, or performances, but also applies to professionals, institutions, and products. Stronger than 'famous' or 'well-known' because it implies high-quality recognition rather than just popularity.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant is very acclaimed in the local area.
The restaurant is very popular in the local area.
'acclaimed' implies formal recognition from experts or critics, not everyday popularity.
She is an acclaimed doctor who has been working for twenty years.
She is a respected doctor with twenty years of experience.
Experience alone does not make someone acclaimed; notable public praise is needed.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Praised' is the plainest of these words — anyone can be praised by anyone for anything, and the praise may be small (“She praised his handwriting”). 'Celebrated' suggests that fame itself is the result of widespread recognition; a celebrated author is one everyone knows. 'Renowned' adds a dimension of long-standing, far-reaching fame, often across regions or generations. 'Famous' is the broadest and most neutral — it simply means many people know the name, with no guarantee of quality. 'Acclaimed' sits closest to 'critically acclaimed' — it carries a strong implication that the praise comes from knowledgeable judges (critics, peers, experts) and is based on genuine merit. For instance, a film may be famous because of a scandal, but only an acclaimed one wins major awards from industry professionals.

praisedcelebrated ↗renowned ↗famous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • critically acclaimed
  • internationally acclaimed

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin verb 'acclamare', which was formed by combining 'ad-' (meaning 'to' or 'toward') with 'clamare' (meaning 'to shout'). In ancient Rome, crowds would 'shout toward' a speaker or performer to show strong approval. The word passed into French as 'acclamer' and then into English in the 1600s. The adjective 'acclaimed' (meaning 'praised by shouting' in its original sense) became common in the 19th century as a way to describe artists and works that received enthusiastic public recognition.