acclaim

1 of 2

verb

ac·​claim ə-ˈklām 

acclaimed; acclaiming; acclaims

transitive verb

1

: applaud, praise

Critics acclaimed her performance.

2

: to declare by acclamation

was acclaimed president of the society

intransitive verb

: to shout praise or applause

acclaimer noun

acclaim

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act of acclaiming

2

: praise, applause

She deserves acclaim for all her charitable works.

Synonyms

Verb

• accredit
• applaud
• cheer
• crack up
• hail
• laud
• praise
• salute
• tout

Noun

• accolade
• applause
• bay(s)
• credit
• distinction
• glory
• homage
• honor
• kudos
• laud
• laurels
• props [slang]
• réclame
• sun

Examples of acclaim in a Sentence

Verb

The critics have acclaimed her performance.

she has long been acclaimed by the critics for her realistic acting

Noun

Her performance in the ballet earned her critical acclaim.

She deserves acclaim for all her charitable works.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The film, produced by Artists Equity and Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, is based on Manuel Puig’s critically acclaimed and bestselling 1976 novel. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024

The follow-up to 2001’s troubled but acclaimed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Ghost was coproduced by the mercurial avant-gardist Jim O’Rourke and featured a lineup of vocalist/guitarist Jeff Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt, multi-instrumentalists Leroy Bach and Mikael Jorgensen and drummer Glenn Kotche. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2024

Noun

Mercury’s direct station on December 15 coincides with a full moon in your tenth house of career and public acclaim, and there’s also a Venus-Jupiter trine falling in your work houses on December 19. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024

The Sussex area, in southern England, has gained acclaim for its sparkling wines, often compared favorably to Champagne. —Lela London, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed (with assimilation to claim entry 1) from Middle French & Latin; Middle French acclamer, borrowed from Latin acclāmāre "to shout (at or in reaction to), raise an outcry, shout approval," from ad- ad- + clāmāre "to shout" — more at claim entry 1

Noun

derivative of acclaim entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1626, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

acclaim

1 of 2 verb

ac·​claim ə-ˈklām 

1

: to welcome with applause or great praise

a novel acclaimed by the critics

2

: to proclaim by or as if by acclamation

acclaimer noun

acclaim

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of acclaiming

2

: applause, praise

Etymology

Verb

from Latin acclamare, literally "to shout at," from ac-, ad- "to, toward" and clamare "to shout" — related to claim, clamor