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
The lackluster reaction in the room continued with Scarlett Johansson, who earned more slack-jawed stares than thunderous applause.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
That said, Booker’s marathon speech ended with applause but not with action − a demonstration of Democrats’ lack of clout as Republicans control the capital’s platforms of power, at the White House and the Senate and the House.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The chamber exploded in applause as Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer announced that Booker had broken the record.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Cooper added that the crowd went into applause when it was confirmed that the pilot had survived.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for applause
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Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
That said, Booker’s marathon speech ended with applause but not with action − a demonstration of Democrats’ lack of clout as Republicans control the capital’s platforms of power, at the White House and the Senate and the House.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The chamber exploded in applause as Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer announced that Booker had broken the record.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Cooper added that the crowd went into applause when it was confirmed that the pilot had survived.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 28 Mar. 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 11 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
applause
noun
ap·plause
ə-ˈplȯz 
: approval shown especially by clapping the hands
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