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
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
Nonprofits don’t need more applause for our resilience.
—Sarah Evans, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
As the Trump administration ramps up efforts to detain and deport undocumented people, dramatic videos of immigration arrests from California to New York have sparked reactions from applause to backlash across the nation’s broad political spectrum.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
The video was well received, with her ranking system receiving its own applause in the comment section.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The move has drawn applause from many trucking associations, which say consistent enforcement will improve road safety by ensuring drivers can read roadside signs, including message boards warning of slow traffic ahead or dangerous road conditions.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for applause
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Sarah Evans, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
As the Trump administration ramps up efforts to detain and deport undocumented people, dramatic videos of immigration arrests from California to New York have sparked reactions from applause to backlash across the nation’s broad political spectrum.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
The video was well received, with her ranking system receiving its own applause in the comment section.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The move has drawn applause from many trucking associations, which say consistent enforcement will improve road safety by ensuring drivers can read roadside signs, including message boards warning of slow traffic ahead or dangerous road conditions.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for applause
Cite this Entry
“Applause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applause. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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applause
noun
ap·plause
ə-ˈplȯz 
: approval shown especially by clapping the hands
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