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 Words From

• pro·audi·ence 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

Then, about halfway through, Johnson took a moment to introduce her to viewers, saying “Yeah, that’s Carrie Underwood,” to audience cheers.

From Los Angeles Times

The limit was set in 2004, years before streaming video started eating away at traditional TV’s audience share.

From Los Angeles Times

Paul Fleming, general secretary of arts union Equity, agreed that new opera productions and engagement programmes in Manchester were welcome, but said "it falls short of a season at the scale audiences deserve".

From BBC

When we continue to get it, it is because we continue to give our audience the best that we have.

From Salon

Instead, the director, Sahra Mani, makes the deliberate choice to clear the way for her subjects to reach the audience directly, in their own words.

From New York Times

Related Words

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