What does applaud mean?
Applaud is a verb meaning to show approval or appreciation, most commonly by clapping the hands together. It is the natural response to a performance — a concert, a play, a speech — but its use extends well beyond theatres: people applaud acts of courage, wise decisions, and generous gestures, even when no actual clapping takes place. In this figurative sense, to applaud something is to praise or endorse it publicly, a usage especially frequent in journalism and public discourse. The word derives from the Latin plaudere, meaning to clap or strike, and shares that root with applause, its noun counterpart, and with explode, whose original sense involved driving a performer from the stage with noise. Applaud carries an unambiguously positive connotation and sits comfortably in both formal and informal registers. Its opposite is expressed not by a single neat antonym but by actions such as booing or jeering. Simple to say and universally understood, applaud remains one of the most direct ways English expresses collective approval.
verbTo show approval or praise by clapping the hands; more broadly, to express enthusiastic approval of a person, performance, or action.
- To clap the hands together to show approval or enjoyment, especially after a performance.
- To express strong approval or praise of a person, decision, or action, whether literally or figuratively.
"The audience rose to applaud the young pianist's stunning debut."
"The crowd applauded loudly as the band took their final bow."
"Critics applauded the government's decision to invest in renewable energy."
The word applaud literally means to 'clap at' — it comes from Latin plaudere, the same root that gave us explode, which originally meant to drive an actor off stage by clapping!
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of applaud
Applaud comes from the Latin verb plaudere, meaning to clap, strike, or beat, via the compound form applaudere ('to clap at' or 'to approve by clapping'). The word entered English in the late Middle Ages through Latin learning contexts, and its derivative applause became established as the standard noun for clapping as an expression of approval. The same Latin root produced plausible (originally 'deserving applause') and explode, which in Roman theatrical custom referred to driving an actor offstage by clapping and shouting.
Related word forms
How applaud is actually used
Applaud is used both literally (clapping) and figuratively (expressing approval of actions or decisions). It carries a positive, approving connotation and is common in both formal reviews and everyday speech. The figurative use often appears in journalism, e.g. 'environmental groups applauded the new policy.'
Easily confused with applaud
Applause is the noun denoting the clapping itself, while applaud is the verb describing the act of clapping or expressing approval.