audition

1 of 2

noun

au·​di·​tion ȯ-ˈdi-shən 

1

: the power or sense of hearing

2

: the act of hearing

especially : a critical hearing

an audition of new recordings

3

: a trial performance to appraise an entertainer's merits

audition

2 of 2

verb

auditioned; auditioning ȯ-ˈdi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to test or try out especially in an audition

intransitive verb

: to give a trial performance

Did you know?

Today, audition most often refers to an artistic performance, but that wasn’t always the case. Audition has roots in the Latin verb audīre meaning “to hear,” and was first used in the late 16th century to refer to the power or sense of hearing. Audīre is also the root of such hearing-related words in English as audible (“capable of being heard”), audience (which first meant “the act or state of hearing”), and the combining form audio-, which appears in various words relating to sound. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the noun audition began being used for an entertainer’s trial performance. And the verb audition, meaning “to test or try out in an audition,” didn’t appear on the English language stage until the mid-20th century.

Examples of audition in a Sentence

Verb

When he came in to audition, he was very charming.

They auditioned several girls for the role.

We will audition dancers today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Per the logline revealed Wednesday, 12 up-and-coming dancers will move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process for the coveted Season 35 slot. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026

Conductor auditions The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for an associate conductor/youth orchestra conductor during May. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026

Verb

There’s a moment when Cee Cee, auditioning for a big-shot New York composer, rewrites his song to bring out the girl power. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026

During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast on Tuesday, March 24, that his friend, Paul Rudd, initially advised him not to audition for the beloved sitcom. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin audītiōn-, audītiō "act of hearing, report, rumor," from audīre "to hear" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at audible entry 1

Verb

derivative of audition entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1931, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for audition

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition
• dismission

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Kids Definition

audition

1 of 2 noun

au·​di·​tion ȯ-ˈdish-ən 

1

: the power or sense of hearing

2

: a short performance to test the talents of a musician, singer, dancer, or actor

audition

2 of 2 verb

auditioned; auditioning

-ˈdish-(ə-)niŋ

: to test or try out in an audition

Medical Definition

audition

noun

au·​di·​tion ȯ-ˈdish-ən 

1

: the power or sense of hearing

2

: the act of hearing