audience

American  

[aw-dee-uhns] / ˈɔ di əns /

noun

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

• proaudience adjective

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. )

Example Sentences

But Guthrie, alongside co-host Hoda Kotb, who was promoted after Lauer’s firing, remained a calm stabilizing force for the program which did not lose any audience after the sudden transition.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Dienst said the audience for SI has gotten younger under Authentic’s ownership.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Denford’s steadily growing “nobody cares” audience regularly tosses sticks of dynamite into that vortex in the name of protecting our sanity.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

"People are used to following our journey, so documenting this and having an audience come with us felt really natural and fun," Habboo says.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Owen held up a finger to tell the audience to wait, and he jogged back to George.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

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