acclamation
C1Formal, ceremonial, political, literary
Definition
Meaning
Loud and enthusiastic approval or praise, often expressed by a large group through shouting, cheering, or clapping.
The act of electing or approving someone to a position without a formal ballot, often as a symbolic gesture by unanimous consent. Also used to describe widespread public praise for something or someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries connotations of public, collective, and often spontaneous approval. Implies a formal or official context where recognition is conferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally used in formal contexts in both varieties. The usage 'by acclamation' (meaning elected without a vote) is more established in US political and parliamentary procedure.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American legal and political jargon. In the UK, often associated with formal assemblies or historical contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation; more common in formal writing and journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The proposal was passed by acclamation.The actor received great acclamation for his performance.The hall echoed with the acclamation of the crowd.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by acclamation”
- “to rise to acclamation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to describe a new product's universal market acceptance.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and literature to describe public approval or ceremonial election.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly formal or pretentious.
Technical
Used in parliamentary procedure ('elected by acclamation').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The decision was acclaimed by the gathered members.
American English
- Her new book has been widely acclaimed by critics.
adverb
British English
- The film was reviewed very acclaimingly in The Guardian.
American English
- The performance was described acclaimingly in the New York Times.
adjective
British English
- She is an acclaimed director in the British film industry.
American English
- The acclaimed author will be giving a lecture at the university.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The winner walked onto the stage to loud acclamation from the audience.
- The team's victory was met with great acclamation.
- The council leader was re-elected by acclamation, as no one chose to stand against him.
- His speech on environmental policy drew widespread acclamation from the conference delegates.
- The proposed amendment to the constitution passed by acclamation, with all parties rising in support.
- Despite the critical acclamation her first novel received, sales remained modest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ACCLAIM-ATION. The crowd gave ACCLAIM in the form of loud cheering. If you see the word 'acclaim' inside, you've got it.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPROVAL IS A LOUD SOUND (shouts, cheers).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'аплодисменты' (applause). 'Acclamation' is more formal and often implies a collective decision. The phrase 'by acclamation' means 'единогласно' (unanimously).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'acclamation' to mean quiet, written praise. Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'She got many acclamations' is unnatural; 'She received great acclamation' is correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following situations best exemplifies the use of 'acclamation'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Acclaim' is more general praise or enthusiastic approval. 'Acclamation' specifically refers to that praise as expressed vocally by a crowd and often has a formal, procedural context (e.g., 'elected by acclamation').
No, the word inherently refers to positive, approving shouts or cheers. Negative loud reactions would be 'booing', 'jeers', or 'cries of protest'.
No, it is a formal word. In everyday situations, words like 'cheers', 'applause', or 'praise' are much more common.
It means a decision (often an election) is made without a formal ballot or vote because the support is so clearly unanimous. It's done by voice approval, often involving cheers or a show of hands.
Explore