applaud
B2formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
to show approval or praise by clapping hands
to express strong approval of someone or something, either literally through clapping or figuratively through praise
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can be used both literally (physical clapping) and metaphorically (expressing approval). Often implies public or collective approval.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use the same spelling and pronunciation.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in American English; equally common in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
applaud [sb/sth]applaud [sb] for [sth]applaud [sb]'s [action/decision]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “applaud to the echo”
- “applaud with one hand”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to express approval of decisions, strategies, or leadership.
Academic
Used to praise research, theories, or scholarly contributions.
Everyday
Used for showing approval at performances, speeches, or personal achievements.
Technical
Rare in technical contexts; mostly in performance or review contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The audience applauded the orchestra at the end of the concert.
- We should applaud the government's new environmental policy.
American English
- The crowd applauded loudly when the team scored.
- I applaud your decision to go back to school.
adverb
British English
- The audience applaudingly welcomed the speaker.
- She smiled applaudingly at her son's performance.
American English
- He nodded applaudingly during the presentation.
- The manager looked on applaudingly as the team finished the project.
adjective
British English
- The applauding crowd gave a standing ovation.
- Her applaudable efforts were recognised by the committee.
American English
- The applauding audience wouldn't stop clapping.
- His applaudable commitment to charity is inspiring.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children applauded after the school play.
- We applaud when we like the show.
- Everyone applauded the singer's beautiful voice.
- The teacher applauded the students for their hard work.
- The committee applauded the initiative to reduce plastic waste.
- Critics applauded the film for its originality.
- We must applaud the resilience of communities facing adversity.
- Historians applaud her research for challenging established narratives.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of APPLAUD as APPLAUSE with a D for DO – you DO clap to applaud.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPROVAL IS PHYSICAL SUPPORT (clapping hands to 'hold up' the praised person/thing)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'аплодировать' (which is correct) and 'хлопать' (which is more informal/colloquial).
- Do not use 'аплодисменты' (noun) as a verb.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'applaud to' instead of 'applaud for' (e.g., 'We applaud her for her bravery').
- Confusing 'applaud' (verb) with 'applause' (noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'applaud' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used both literally (clapping) and figuratively (expressing strong approval).
No, it inherently expresses approval or praise. For negative reactions, use words like 'boo' or 'criticize'.
The noun form is 'applause'.
'Applaud' is more formal and can be figurative; 'clap' is more general and informal for the physical action.