clapped

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   Hit your hands together to make a noise, especially to show praise.

   Grammar: Can be used without an object (everyone clapped) or with one (clapped her hands).

   Patterns

   • clap your hands
   • clap for someone
   • clap something

   The audience clapped loudly at the end of the show.

   She clapped her hands to get the children's attention.

   We all clapped when the winner walked on stage.

2. 2verbintransitive

   Put your hand or hands together quickly and noisily, often in rhythm.

   Grammar: Often followed by a phrase like 'in time' or 'along to the music'.

   Patterns

   • clap in time
   • clap along
   • clap to the music

   The crowd clapped in time with the drums.

   The children clapped along to the song.

   He clapped his hands to the beat.

3. 3adjectivenot comparableinformalBritish

   Very tired or in a poor state; used informally in British English.

   Grammar: Used after a verb like 'be' or 'feel': I'm clapped.

   Patterns

   • be clapped
   • feel clapped

   After the long hike, I was completely clapped.

   That old phone is clapped; it barely works.

Word forms

Common combinations

clap your hands

The teacher asked us to clap our hands.

clap loudly

They clapped loudly after the speech.

clap in time

Try to clap in time with the music.

be clapped out

My old car is clapped out and needs replacing.

Synonyms and how they differ

applaud

More formal than clap and often used for showing approval in a serious setting.

cheer

Means to shout in support, not just to hit your hands together.

Word family

clap verb

The base form meaning to hit your hands together.

clapping noun

The sound or act of hitting your hands together.

Commonly confused: clapped or clapt? clapped or clamped?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “clapped”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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