An ovation is enthusiastic applause from an audience showing appreciation and admiration. When a pianist finishes a brilliant concert, the audience might give her an ovation, clapping loudly to show how much they enjoyed her performance. When a baseball player hits a game-winning home run, fans give him an ovation as he rounds the bases.

Today we use the word for any moment when a crowd claps to honor someone's achievement or excellence.

You'll often hear about a standing ovation, which means something extraordinary: the audience likes the performance so much that they rise to their feet while clapping. Standing ovations don't happen at every concert or play. They're reserved for truly special moments, like when an actor delivers an unforgettable performance or a speaker shares something deeply moving.

An ovation is more than polite applause. It's when appreciation becomes so strong that people can't help but express it loudly and enthusiastically, celebrating someone who has given their best effort and created something worth honoring.