audition
Americannoun
-
auditions
plural
-
a trial hearing given to a singer, actor, or other performer to test suitability for employment, professional training or competition, etc.
-
a reading or other simplified rendering of a theatrical work, performed before a potential backer, producer, etc.
-
the act, sense, or power of hearing.
-
something that is heard.
verb (used with or without object)
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auditions,
present (3rd person singular)
-
auditioned,
past participle, past
-
auditioning
present participle
noun
-
a test at which a performer or musician is asked to demonstrate his ability for a particular role, etc
-
the act, sense, or power of hearing
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
auditionsimple
-
auditionssimple
-
have auditionedperfect
-
has auditionedperfect
-
am auditioningprogressive
-
are auditioningprogressive
-
is auditioningprogressive
-
have been auditioningperfect progressive
-
has been auditioningperfect progressive
Past
-
auditionedsimple
-
had auditionedperfect
-
was auditioningprogressive
-
were auditioningprogressive
-
had been auditioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of audition
1590–1600; (< Middle French ) < Latin audītiōn- (stem of audītiō hearing). See auditive, -ion
Explanation
An audition is a tryout for a role in a movie, orchestra, or play. If you bomb the audition, you probably won't make it into the cast. When describing a tryout in which an actor, singer, musician, or dancer tries to prove that he or she is talented enough to earn a part in a show, audition is used as a noun. The word can also be used as a verb, as in, "I auditioned for the part of Peter Pan, but every time I tried to fly I fell flat on my face." Audition shares a common heritage with audience, the group of people who will eventually watch the show for which a performer has auditioned. Both words come from the Middle French term meaning "power of hearing."
Vocabulary lists containing audition
Common Senses: Aud ("Hear")
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aud
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Theater - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Plus, why lawmakers are suddenly souring on megasize data centers, and Jon Ossoff’s 2028 audition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
In May, Panettiere spoke to the BBC's US partner CBS News about her mother taking her as an "eight-month-old baby into audition rooms".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
So it’s entirely understandable if most of us aren’t into the labor aspect of the Lanterns’ audition process.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
“I assumed it was part of the audition process,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Several other players were also invited to audition for the proposed show, which would present questions that would focus on the history and lore of chess.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Mr. James’s main characters are men who have answered a flyer advertising auditions for a local theater performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Lindsey auditions for and gets Aubrey’s TV part.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Northern Ireland boxers Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock progressed through initial auditions for the show, but then had to drop out to focus on their sport as the Games drew closer.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Anybody aged 12 and over can apply for the series, although those aged under 18 attending open auditions must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Poor Mr. Newton just can’t compete with auditions for my first-ever paid gig though.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
Production had already begun when Mitchell auditioned, first with a self-tape and then for the producers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
She managed to see off 300,000 other teenagers who auditioned during a global casting search, to secure just one of the four coveted roles.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
After I auditioned at UNCSA, I was accepted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
After three final women auditioned, Burley explained how the casting director told the group to "make your mind up".
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Most of my friends are—even Nick, who’d never auditioned for anything in his life until this.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
“I auditioned for it while I was working at Secret Cinema and I was incredibly depressed because I was auditioning and not getting anything,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
And there's a talent contest going on inside the Labour Party, with Andy Burnham the Simon Cowell, and aspirant ministers auditioning for their place.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
He conducted his briefing as if he was auditioning for the job he already holds.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Really, the heart of the show is the idea of auditioning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
“When auditioning for a new musical, it’s very, very important to wear clothing that allows for movement.”
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
