to applaud
Loading your saved state.
to applaud
To clap one's hands in order to express applause, approval, or recognition, typically after an artistic performance, a speech, or an athletic achievement.
Nach dem beeindruckenden Klaviersolo applaudierte das Publikum minutenlang.
After the impressive piano solo, the audience applauded for minutes.
to applaud
To fully approve of and praise an action, decision, or idea in a figurative sense, without physically clapping one's hands.
Ich applaudiere Ihrer mutigen Entscheidung, das Projekt trotz der Widerstände weiterzuführen.
I applaud your courageous decision to continue the project despite the opposition.
This verb is used with the dative. You applaud a person or a thing. So the structure is: Jemand applaudiert jemandem/etwas (someone applauds someone/something).
Das ganze Stadion applaudierte der Siegermannschaft.
The whole stadium applauded the winning team.
You can tell from the object whether the literal or figurative meaning is intended. If you applaud a person (e.g. an artist) or a group, it usually means clapping. If you applaud an abstract idea (e.g. a decision), it means approval.
Das Publikum applaudierte dem Pianisten nach dem Konzert.
The audience applauded the pianist after the concert.
The ending '-ieren' shows that 'applaudieren' (to applaud) is a loanword that comes from Latin. It is conjugated like all regular verbs ending in '-ieren'.
Er applaudierte, als der Redner seine Rede beendete.
He applauded when the speaker finished his speech.
In the literal sense, 'applaudieren' (to applaud) is often combined with adverbs that describe the type of applause, for example 'begeistert' (enthusiastically), 'stürmisch' (rapturously), 'laut' (loudly), or 'langanhaltend' (sustained).
Die Zuschauer standen auf und applaudierten begeistert.
The spectators stood up and applauded enthusiastically.
to greet / welcome
Begrüßen and applaudieren can both express approval of a decision in a figurative sense. Begrüßen shows a positive evaluation without necessarily expressing strong enthusiasm. Applaudieren sounds distinctly more emphatic and foregrounds wholehearted approval or explicit praise.
In ihrer Stellungnahme applaudiert die Opposition dem neuen Beschluss als besonders mutigem Schritt.
In its statement, the opposition applauds the new decision as an especially courageous step.
In ihrer Stellungnahme begrüßt die Opposition den neuen Beschluss der Regierung.
In its statement, the opposition welcomes the government's new decision.
