Applause
n.joyful, energeticwarm
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.
Choose between these
6- playful
cheers
vocal celebration dominates the reaction
not when Cheers can be partisan or rowdy and need not include clapping.
- everyday
positive words matter more than the audience ritual
not when Praise can be private and may come from one person.
- warm
sustained enthusiastic applause is genuinely exceptional
not when Ovation overstates a brief polite response.
- professional
approval
favorable judgment is the underlying meaning
not when Approval can be silent, procedural, or reluctant.
- professional
the contribution is being publicly noticed
not when Recognition may take the form of a mention or award with no applause.
- formal
strong public praise extends beyond one audience response
not when Acclaim is broader and more durable than a moment of applause.
Said against
3- booing
- silence
- disapproval
It naturally appears in
3- round of applause
The audience offered a round of applause to every student performer.
- loud applause
Loud applause followed the final restored film clip.
- applause broke out
Applause broke out when the missing dog entered the hall.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: clapping or approval from an audience opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.