Applause
What it means
Clapping or another audible expression of warm public approval.
Reach for it when describing a collective response without assuming lasting acclaim
A burst of applause greeted the volunteers as they entered.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
cheers
Fits when vocal celebration dominates the reaction
Careful Cheers can be partisan or rowdy and need not include clapping.
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everyday
Fits when positive words matter more than the audience ritual
Careful Praise can be private and may come from one person.
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warm
Fits when sustained enthusiastic applause is genuinely exceptional
Careful Ovation overstates a brief polite response.
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professional
approval
Fits when favorable judgment is the underlying meaning
Careful Approval can be silent, procedural, or reluctant.
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professional
Fits when the contribution is being publicly noticed
Careful Recognition may take the form of a mention or award with no applause.
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formal
Fits when strong public praise extends beyond one audience response
Careful Acclaim is broader and more durable than a moment of applause.
Opposites 3
- booing
- silence
- disapproval
Common phrases 3
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round of applause
The audience offered a round of applause to every student performer.
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loud applause
Loud applause followed the final restored film clip.
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applause broke out
Applause broke out when the missing dog entered the hall.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated