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What were the large working-class audiences at 17th-century theaters called?

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audience

American  

[aw-dee-uhns] / ˈɔ di əns /

noun

• audiences
  plural

1. 

   the group of spectators at a public event; listeners or viewers collectively, as in attendance at a theater or concert.

   The audience was respectful of the speaker's opinion.

2. the persons reached by a book, radio or television broadcast, etc.; public.

   Some works of music have a wide and varied audience.

3. a regular public that manifests interest, support, enthusiasm, or the like; a following.

   Every art form has its audience.

4. opportunity to be heard; chance to speak to or before a person or group; a hearing.

5. a formal interview with a sovereign, high officer of government, or other high-ranking person.

   an audience with the pope.

6. the act of hearing, or attending to, words or sounds.

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audience British  

/ ˈɔːdɪəns /

noun

1. a group of spectators or listeners, esp at a public event such as a concert or play

2. the people reached by a book, film, or radio or television programme

3. the devotees or followers of a public entertainer, lecturer, etc; regular public

4. an opportunity to put one's point of view, such as a formal interview with a monarch or head of state

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Grammar

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• proaudience
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• audiences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of audience

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin audientia “act of listening, group of listeners,” from audient-, stem of audiēns “hearing” (present participle of audīre “to hear”) + -ia -ia ( def. )

Explanation

An audience can be people watching a performance, or an opportunity to speak with someone important, like an audience with your favorite actor at a "meet and greet" event. The noun audience can describe all the people watching a performance, or the part of the general public interested in a specific type of information or entertainment. For example, the audience for a show about raising children might be parents or other care-givers. Finally, an audience can be a meeting or interview, like an audience with your school's principal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

audience audiences

Across that timespan, the audience is treated to “That Thing You Do!” in part or in full eight times, once every 13 minutes.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

Groppo highlighted the enthusiasm among a new male audience for Chanel ready-to-wear, including "loafers, trainers, blazers and bags".

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

"The documentary has introduced the competition, Carrbridge, and the wonderful world of porridge to a whole new audience, and we're really looking forward to welcoming this year's competitors to the village," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

We’ve met such men before, and I’m ordinarily allergic to films in which actors cry in an effort to make the audience cry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Many in the audience hooted as Maggie over-enunciated— raising her hands to heaven as if starring in some tragic play.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Warner Bros. leaned in to the polarized reviews in its marketing, encouraging audiences to make up their own minds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

If a solar panel uses the energy of the sun to power a building, an intentionally run theater can use the energy of its inspired audiences to power a city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Changing entertainment habits and tighter restrictions have made audiences harder to find, pushing many out of the profession.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Fennell wanted to make audiences uncomfortable right out of the gate.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

The audiences are modest enough that they remain individual people rather than blending into an anonymous crowd.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• congregation
• crowd
• gallery
• gathering
• market
• public