audience
- 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.
- the persons reached by a book, radio or television broadcast, etc.; public: Some works of music have a wide and varied audience.
- a regular public that manifests interest, support, enthusiasm, or the like; a following: Every art form has its audience.
- opportunity to be heard; chance to speak to or before a person or group; a hearing.
- a formal interview with a sovereign, high officer of government, or other high-ranking person: an audience with the pope.
- the act of hearing, or attending to, words or sounds.
Origin of audience
Usage note
Related Words
gathering, crowd, gallery, congregation, public, market, assembly, house, following, turnout, assemblage, admirers, hearers, conference, audition, discussion, conversation, consultation, reception, interviewExamples from the Web for audiences
Contemporary Examples
Was the blackface scene with Gene Wilder in Silver Streak an important step in how American audiences view minstrelsy?
The original French title, Bande de Filles (girl gang) was translated to Girlhood in order to appeal more to American audiences.
These are the same Taliban fighters known to U.S. audiences from the documentary Restrepo and the film Lone Survivor.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban ValleyMatt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman
November 15, 2014
By Rich Goldstein Are audiences tired with caped crusaders and gritty reboots?
7 Must-Read Stories about Tim Cook, Amelia Earheart and Slut-o-Ween: The Best of The BeastWilliam Boot
November 1, 2014
Are audiences tired with caped crusaders and gritty reboots?
Marvel and DC Plan 20 Movies for the Next Six Years: Will the Comic Book Movie Bubble Burst?Rich Goldstein
October 29, 2014
Historical Examples
We hear of no more disturbances; the fact was that the audiences were too thin to be noisy.
HandelEdward J. Dent
Their audiences were no better, and therefore were satisfied with what they brought.
It is one of the penalties of Protestantism that the audiences, after a while, outgrow the preacher.
The American MindBliss Perry
"Audiences don't think—at least, not in England," said Bennett.
A Day with Felix Mendelssohn BartholdyGeorge Sampson
It had, he felt, made a difference, not only in the size but the responsiveness of his audiences.
The PrisonerAlice Brown
audience
- a group of spectators or listeners, esp at a public event such as a concert or play
- the people reached by a book, film, or radio or television programme
- the devotees or followers of a public entertainer, lecturer, etc; regular public
- an opportunity to put one's point of view, such as a formal interview with a monarch or head of state
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for audiences
audience
n.
late 14c., "the action of hearing," from Old French audience, from Latin audentia "a hearing, listening," from audientum (nominative audiens), present participle of audire "to hear," from PIE compound *au-dh- "to perceive physically, grasp," from root *au- "to perceive" (cf. Greek aisthanesthai "to feel;" Sanskrit avih, Avestan avish "openly, evidently;" Old Church Slavonic javiti "to reveal"). Meaning "formal hearing or reception" is from late 14c.; that of "persons within hearing range, assembly of listeners" is from early 15c. (French audience retains only the older senses). Sense transferred 1855 to "readers of a book." Audience-participation (adj.) first recorded 1940.