What does applauding mean?
Applauding is the act of showing approval or appreciation, most commonly by clapping the hands, and it also extends figuratively to praising or commending people, ideas, and achievements. As the present participle of the verb 'applaud', it typically describes an action in progress: an audience applauding a performer, colleagues applauding a retiring coworker, or commentators applauding a bold decision. The word carries an entirely positive connotation, signalling admiration, enthusiasm, or gratitude, and it ranges in register from spontaneous public celebration to measured editorial approval. Its figurative use is especially common in journalism, where writers may speak of experts applauding a policy without any literal clapping involved. The word traces back to Latin 'applaudere', meaning to strike together in approval, which also gave English 'applause' and 'plaudit'. Recognising both its physical and figurative senses makes 'applauding' a versatile marker of endorsement in everyday speech and writing alike.
verb (present participle of 'applaud')The present participle of 'applaud': to show approval or enjoyment by clapping the hands, or more broadly to praise or express strong approval of someone or something.
- To express approval or enjoyment by clapping the hands.
- To praise or commend someone or something strongly, whether literally or figuratively.
"The audience rose to its feet, applauding wildly as the curtain fell."
"The crowd stood applauding for several minutes after the final note faded."
"Critics were applauding the director's bold decision to shoot the entire film in one take."
When Romans approved of an actor, they didn't just clap — they snapped their fingers and flapped their togas, and if they really loved it, they threw things on stage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of applauding
The verb 'applaud' comes from Latin 'applaudere', formed from 'ad-' (toward) plus 'plaudere' (to strike or clap), originally describing the striking together of hands in approval. The practice of clapping as public approval dates back to ancient Rome, where audiences expressed degrees of enthusiasm through different gestures. The same Latin root 'plaudere' gave English several related words, including 'applause', 'plaudit', and, less obviously, 'plausible' and 'explosion'. The '-ing' form simply reflects standard English inflection of the verb.
Related word forms
How applauding is actually used
As a verb form, 'applauding' carries an unambiguously positive connotation and appears in both formal contexts (critics applauding a policy) and everyday ones (an audience applauding a performance). The figurative sense — applauding an idea or decision rather than physically clapping — is common in journalism and public discourse.
Easily confused with applauding
'Applause' is the noun denoting the clapping itself, while 'applauding' is the verb form describing the act of clapping or praising.