applaud

applaud — verb

1. to bring your hands together again and again to show performers or speakers that

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to bring your hands together again and again to show performers or speakers that you liked what they did

Example

The crowd applauded as Farouk finished her violin solo.

applaud after a performance

Parents stood and applauded the children after the school play.

applaud somebody

Common collocations
  • applaud loudly
  • applaud warmly
  • applaud the cast
  • applaud the speaker
  • applaud wildly
Synonyms
  • clap

    a simpler word that often focuses on the hand movement itself

  • cheer

    adds shouting or excited support, especially in sports

  • give someone a hand

    informal and often used when inviting an audience to applaud

Antonyms
  • boo

    shows dislike by shouting against a performer or speaker

  • jeer

    suggests louder, more mocking disapproval

Grammar Patterns

applaud

applaud somebody

Usage Note

Often used without an object after concerts, plays, and speeches. When an object is named, it is usually the performer, speaker, or team rather than the event itself.

Common Mistakes

Everyone applauded their hands after the song.
Everyone applauded after the song.
applaud usually does not take hands as its object.

2. to openly praise a person, action, or plan because you think it deserves support

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to openly praise a person, action, or plan because you think it deserves support

Example

Several doctors applauded the city's decision to ban indoor smoking.

applaud + decision

Newspapers applauded her for returning the money to the school.

applaud somebody for + -ing

Common collocations
  • applaud a decision
  • applaud the move
  • applaud the effort
  • widely applaud
  • applaud somebody for courage
Synonyms
  • praise

    the broadest choice and not as public in tone

  • commend

    more formal and often used for actions judged positively

  • endorse

    stresses public support rather than admiration alone

Antonyms
  • criticize

    points out faults instead of approval

  • condemn

    shows strong public disapproval

  • oppose

    focuses on resistance rather than negative comment

Grammar Patterns

applaud something

applaud somebody for something

Usage Note

Usually takes an object such as a decision, policy, effort, or person, and often appears with for + noun or -ing. Distinguish from sense 1: here the approval is expressed in words or public support, not by clapping.

Common Mistakes

The paper applauded to the new law.
The paper applauded the new law.
applaud is transitive in this sense and does not take to before the object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For sense 1, applaud is the general verb for showing approval after a speech, concert, or play. Clap is simpler and often describes the hand movement itself, so people can clap to music without formally applauding anyone. Cheer adds shouting or excited support, especially at games or rallies. Give someone a hand is informal and friendly, and speakers often use it when inviting the audience to applaud. After the school play, parents applauded the cast. At the football field, fans cheered when the captain scored.

applaud ↗clap ↗cheer ↗give someone a hand

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • applaud somebody for something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Applaud comes from Latin applaudere, formed from ad- meaning 'to' and plaudere meaning 'clap' or 'strike'. It reached English through French. The earliest idea was physical clapping, and later the word also came to mean praising or publicly supporting a person or action.