To welcome or praise someone or something with strong public approval.
Reach for it when describing enthusiastic recognition from a group, audience, or reviewer
Local educators hailed the library's decision to extend weekend hours.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when approval can be direct and measured
Careful Praise does not convey the collective enthusiasm usually carried by hail.
warm
Fits when the achievement deserves joyful attention as well as approval
Careful Celebrate can mark an occasion without judging the work itself.
professional
Fits when support for a decision or principle is being made public
Careful Applaud may mean polite approval and need not imply exceptional merit.
formal
Fits when broad or authoritative praise establishes high standing
Careful Acclaim implies notable public recognition and is too grand for one warm response.
formal
Fits when concise written praise suits criticism or reporting
Careful Laud is bookish and rarely sounds natural in casual congratulations.
formal
salute
Fits when respect for service or courage is central
Careful Salute carries ceremonial or military associations that can overwhelm artistic praise.
literary
Fits when the praise is elaborate and emphatic
Careful Extol can sound excessive when the approval was brief or mixed.
hail as a success
Reviewers hail the redesign as a success for accessibility.
widely hailed
The agreement was widely hailed for protecting both wetlands and jobs.
hail the achievement
Speakers will hail the achievement without hiding the work still ahead.
critics hail
Critics hail the debut for its restraint and clarity.
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
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