audience

noun

au·​di·​ence ˈȯ-dē-ən(t)s 

ˈä-

1

a

: a group of listeners or spectators

The concert attracted a large audience.

b

: a reading, viewing, or listening public

The film is intended for a young audience.

2

: a group of ardent admirers or devotees

has developed an enthusiastic audience for his ideas

3

a

: a formal hearing or interview

an audience with the pope

b

: an opportunity of being heard

4

: the act or state of hearing

Give me audience and heed what I say.

Synonyms

• cult
• followership
• following

Examples of audience in a Sentence

The concert attracted a large audience.

The audience clapped and cheered.

Her audience is made up mostly of young women.

Recent Examples on the Web

It seems destined to inspire a new round of discourse about what artists owe their wristband-buying audience vs. themselves and how much latitude fans should extend to their favorites to take their creativity in new and sometimes unexpected directions. —Paul Albani-Burgio, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024

The film takes the audience back to the one-bedroom apartment David’s family lived in while his parents scrimped to send their sons to the best schools in Lagos. —Jen Wang, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2024

The way the echo affected how the audience took in his jokes. —David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2024

The championship game between Iowa and South Carolina on April 7 drew 18.9 million viewers on average, surpassing the audience for the men’s title match for the first time. —Claire Rush, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024

Female moviegoers made up 58 percent of Friday’s audience, while a whopping 76 percent of ticket buyers were between ages 18 and 34. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2024

Yet, despite the low production value, the audiences these micro-dramas receive are massive and the financial returns practically immediate. —Chad De Guzman, TIME, 27 Apr. 2024

But Guyton has been in this too long to have offered the BMAC audience any false hopes about charting real progress. —Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024

Jazz trios will accompany show exits; audience members will be encouraged to relax around the horseshoe bar until last call. —Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "hearing, group of listeners, assembly, council," borrowed from Anglo-French, "hearing, group of listeners," borrowed from Latin audientia "act of listening, group of listeners," noun derivative of audient-, audiens, present participle of audīre "to hear" — more at audible entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing audience

• captive audience

Kids Definition

audience

noun

au·​di·​ence ˈȯd-ē-ən(t)s 

1

: a group that listens or watches (as at a play or concert)

2

: an interview with a person of high rank

3

: those of the general public who give attention to something said, done, or written

books with an audience of millions