audience

[aw-dee-uhns]

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.

audience

/ 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

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

• proaudience adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of audience¹

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. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of audience¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin audientia a hearing, from audīre to hear

Example Sentences

But Bioh loves all of her characters, which makes it easy for the audience to leave the theater feeling similarly.

From Los Angeles Times

They opened with “Live In the Moment,” which jumped the audience right into the beginning of Hopper’s story, on the set for “Rebel Without A Cause.”

From Salon

Park handles this dark subject with all the delicacy of a whoopee cushion, aiming for outsized, slapstick laughs that will appeal to both Korean and international audiences.

From Salon

The audience dutifully booed at the mention of the Reform UK leader's name but speaking to Tory members afterwards, it was clear many feel uncomfortable about these kind of attacks.

From BBC

“Here’s a place we can sandbox, and play with ideas, and see how we can push audiences in ways that aren’t expected,” says Evaristo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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