ovation
oh-VEY-shun
/oʊˈveɪʃən/
A sustained and enthusiastic outburst of applause from an audience.
Often paired with 'standing' to denote maximum audience praise and admiration.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, an 'ovatio' was a minor victory celebration given to a military commander for a bloodless victory. In 19th-century English, it was adopted to describe overwhelming public clapping.
Word relationships
- applause: 'Applause' is general hand-clapping; an 'ovation' is prolonged, intense praise.
- booing: Vocal vocalization of disapproval.
Commonly confused with
- ovulation: Ovulation is a biological reproductive process; ovation is passionate applause.
Collocations
- standing ovation
- thunderous ovation
- receive an ovation
- rousing ovation
Example sentences
- "The pianist received a standing ovation that lasted nearly ten minutes." Classical concert
- "Her triumphant performance in the lead role earned a thunderous ovation from the crowd." Theater debut
Memory hook
OVATION starts with O like 'O-M-G that was incredible!' OVATION = enthusiastic clapping and cheering.
When not to use
Do not use for brief, quiet, or unenthusiastic clapping.
Fun facts
- During a Roman 'ovatio', commanders sacrificed a sheep, whereas a full 'triumph' required a bull!
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