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

But two dancers who didn’t even make the team turned out to be the show’s biggest stars. With cameras following, Charly Barby and Kelly Villares auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad in the summer of 2023, making it through solo auditions and the team’s long and taxing training camp. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 June 2025

According to the complaint, Perry first noticed Dixon in 2019 while the actor was working as event staff at a party and later offered him an audition. —Essence Staff, Essence, 18 June 2025

Verb

But two dancers who didn’t even make the team turned out to be the show’s biggest stars. With cameras following, Charly Barby and Kelly Villares auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad in the summer of 2023, making it through solo auditions and the team’s long and taxing training camp. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 June 2025

Ava Lahey Ava Lahey originally auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in 2021, but was ultimately cut for posting provocative photos on Instagram. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 18 June 2025

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