Acclaimed means widely praised and celebrated for excellence. When a book is acclaimed, critics and readers recognize it as exceptional. When a scientist is acclaimed for her discoveries, the scientific community honors her groundbreaking work.

The word suggests that recognition comes from people whose opinions carry weight: experts, professionals, or large audiences who really understand the field. A student might receive nice comments on an essay, but an acclaimed novelist has earned serious recognition from literary critics and devoted readers around the world.

You'll often see acclaimed paired with specific achievements: an acclaimed performance, an acclaimed restaurant, an acclaimed documentary. The word tells you that many knowledgeable people agree something is truly outstanding. When someone creates acclaimed work, they've achieved something remarkable enough that others in their field stand up and take notice.