audience
AW-dee-uhns
Audience (noun) means the group of people watching or listening to a performance, speech, or broadcast. Example: “The comedian had the audience laughing within seconds.”
noun
1
The group of people watching or listening to a performance, speech, or broadcast.
"The comedian had the audience laughing within seconds."
"The show reaches a global audience through streaming."
"The audience stood up and clapped at the end of the play."
2
A formal meeting granted by someone important, such as a head of state.
"The ambassador was granted an audience with the king."
"The mayor granted the visitors a short audience in her office."
"Pilgrims waited for hours to have an audience with the leader."
How to use audience
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe people who watch, read, or listen to something — or a formal meeting with someone powerful.
Common pairings
target audience
captive audience
grant an audience
win over the audience
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Word forms
- Plural
- audiences
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The comedian had the _____ laughing within seconds.
Etymology
From Latin audientia, "hearing," from audire, "to hear."
Synonyms
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viewers
listeners
spectators
crowd
onlookers
the public
consultation
hearing
interview
hearership
listenership
Related words
Rhymes for audience
See all rhymes for audience →Frequently asked questions
What does “audience” mean?
The word “audience” means the group of people watching or listening to a performance, speech, or broadcast. In plain terms, the people who watch, read, or listen to something — or a formal meeting with someone powerful.
How do you pronounce “audience”?
“Audience” is pronounced AW-dee-uhns (/ˈɔːdi.əns/ in IPA).
How do you use “audience” in a sentence?
Here is “audience” used in a sentence: “The comedian had the audience laughing within seconds.”
What is another word for “audience”?
Words with a similar meaning to “audience” include hearership and listenership.
What part of speech is “audience”?
“Audience” is a noun.
Where does the word “audience” come from?
The word “audience” comes from Latin. From Latin audientia, "hearing," from audire, "to hear.".
Is “audience” a common word?
“Audience” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “audience” have?
“Audience” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the group of people watching or listening to a performance, speech, or broadcast.
What is the difference between an audience and a crowd?
A crowd is just a large group of people gathered in one place, often with no shared focus. An audience is gathered specifically to watch or listen to something — a performance, speech or broadcast — so it has a common point of attention. Every audience is a kind of crowd, but not every crowd is an audience.
What are the different types of audience?
There are live audiences seated at an event, studio audiences present for a recording, and broadcast audiences watching or listening from home. In marketing, a 'target audience' is the specific group a message is aimed at, while writers speak of their readership as an audience too. The word stretches across every medium.
Can 'audience' mean a formal meeting?
Yes. Besides the group watching a performance, an audience can be a formal interview or meeting granted by an important or powerful person. Phrases like 'an audience with the Pope' or 'a royal audience' use this older sense, where being given an audience means being allowed time to speak with someone of high rank.
What is an example of an audience?
The people filling the seats at a concert are an audience — they have come to watch and listen together. Other examples include viewers tuning in to a television broadcast, listeners of a radio show or podcast, and the readers of a magazine, all of whom receive the same performance or message.
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