APPLAUD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does applaud mean? 

• APPLAUD (verb)
  The verb APPLAUD has 2 senses:

1. clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval

2. express approval of

  Familiarity information: APPLAUD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• APPLAUD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they applaud    ... he / she / it applauds   
Past simple: applauded   
Past participle: applauded   
-ing form: applauding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

acclaim; applaud; clap; spat

Hypernyms (to "applaud" is one way to...):

gesticulate; gesture; motion (show, express or direct through movement)

"Applaud" entails doing...:

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction (give sanction to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "applaud"):

bravo (applaud with shouts of 'bravo' or 'brava')

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

boo (show displeasure, as after a performance or speech)

Derivation:

applauder (someone who applauds)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Express approval of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I applaud your efforts

Hypernyms (to "applaud" is one way to...):

praise (express approval of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "applaud"):

cheer (show approval or good wishes by shouting)

acclaim; hail; herald (praise vociferously)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

applaudable (worthy of high praise)

applauder (someone who applauds)

 Context examples 

Both Traddles and I applauded it highly.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The five hundred women applauded softly with gloved hands, seeking to encourage the bashful great man who was their guest.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

At long last, your talents will be acknowledged, appreciated, and applauded.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The men outside shouted and applauded, while Beauty Smith, in an ecstasy of delight, gloated over the ripping and mangling performed by White Fang.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The gruff tones of Hugo's voice, with an occasional shout when his feelings overcame him, were very impressive, and the audience applauded the moment he paused for breath.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Again he emitted the curious bell-like cry, and again the Corinthians and the fighting-men laughed and applauded him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Pulling up his steed, he slightly inclined his head, and sat in the stern and composed fashion with which he had borne himself throughout, heedless of the applauding shouts and the flutter of kerchiefs from the long lines of brave men and of fair women who were looking down upon him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I applaud his resolution.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Marianne's performance was highly applauded.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

That if his majesty, in consideration of your services, and pursuant to his own merciful disposition, would please to spare your life, and only give orders to put out both your eyes, he humbly conceived, that by this expedient justice might in some measure be satisfied, and all the world would applaud the lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceedings of those who have the honour to be his counsellors.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)