audition

noun

au·di·tion | \ ȯ-ˈdi-shən

How to pronounce audition (audio)

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Definition of audition

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

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

How to pronounce auditioning (audio)

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Definition of audition (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to test or try out especially in an audition

intransitive verb

: to give a trial performance

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about audition

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Did You Know?

Noun

Today, "audition" most often refers to a theatrical tryout, but that wasn't always the case. "Audition" is rooted in the Latin verb audire, meaning "to hear," and was first used in the late 16th century to refer to the power or sense of hearing. "Audire" is also the root of such "hearing" words in English as "audible," "audience" (which first meant "the act or state of hearing"), and the prefix audio-, which appears in various words relating to sound. It wasn't until 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

Detroit native Ayla Stackhouse, also part of the production, was cast during auditions in New York. — Greg Crawford, Detroit Free Press, "Plan your weekend: BravoBravo!, Palmer Park Art Fair, Art on the Grand in Farmington," 30 May 2018 Contestants for the finals were chosen from a group of more than 25 people who sang a cappella during auditions in February. — Staff Report, Daily Southtown, "Community news: Lincoln-Way Central Best Buddies program lauded at state level," 10 May 2018 Check-in and registration for the Cincinnati auditions opens at 8:30 a.m. on the day of competition. — Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Pigeon Forge talent competition coming to Cincinnati," 2 Apr. 2018 Nine months after my first audition, I was called in for the seventh time. — Ari’el Stachel, Time, "I Once Hid My Middle Eastern Identity. Being Cast in the Musical The Band’s Visit Changed That," 4 June 2018 On Thursday, April 12, SAG-AFTRA published an installation to their new Code of Conduct that asks producers to stop holding auditions inside hotel rooms. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "SAG-AFTRA Seeks to End Auditions in Hotel Rooms," 15 Apr. 2018 En Vogue formed in 1988 when a group of Oakland producers held auditions to create a girl super group. — Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE.com, "'90s R&B Divas En Vogue on Their Hit New Music, Painful Past and How They Survived," 5 Apr. 2018 As the Blackhawks prospect continues his audition this week, though, his central focus is effectively using that size on narrower North American rinks. — Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, "Blackhawks prospect Victor Ejdsell learning to adjust big body on the fly," 4 Apr. 2018 That means the producers have already seen a transformation when Arthie comes out to audition. — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Glow Season 2, Episodes 1-10," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The couple met in August 2006 when the bride auditioned for a play that the groom was directing. — New York Times, "Madeline Long, Joshua Weinstein," 17 June 2018 Parade reports that Chevel actually auditioned for season 13 of the NBC reality show in Las Vegas, but the teams were already full. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "What to Know About 'The Voice' Finalist Chevel Shepherd Before Voting for Her Tonight," 17 Dec. 2018 Instead of shopping for dorm room furniture, the teenager from Florida is traveling the NBA circuit for predraft workouts, auditioning for a spot in the upcoming NBA draft. — Geoffrey C. Arnold, OregonLive.com, "Ex-Trail Blazer Ime Udoka a possible finalist for Detroit Pistons head coach position: Report," 5 June 2018 All child/youth roles will be auditioned from 5 to 6:45 p.m. and all adult roles will audition from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, May 7 and 8, at the Windham Middle School, 123 Quarry St. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, May 16. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 1 May 2018 To audition, your child must be shorter than 4 feet 2 inches and be no older than 5 years and three months. — Courtney Ortega, star-telegram, "Casting call: Tony-nominated musical 'Waitress' looking for local girls to play role of Lulu," 9 Feb. 2018 Mohan said the filmmaking team has traveled to India to audition some performers. — Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Hollywood's Duplass Brothers will produce a movie that will be filmed in Indy," 16 Jan. 2018 What got you interested in auditioning for America's Got Talent rather than the various other singing competitions on TV? — Stephen Daw, Billboard, "Brody Ray on His Emotional 'America's Got Talent' Audition: 'It Was So Validating for Me'," 29 June 2018 As was the song by Motian, whose band Cline auditioned for unsuccessfully in 1983. — Dan Deluca, Philly.com, "How Wilco guitarist Nels Cline remade his 'Lovers' especially for Philadelphia," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'audition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for audition

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

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Dictionary Entries near audition

Statistics for audition

Last Updated

11 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for audition

The first known use of audition was in 1599

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More Definitions for audition

audition

noun

English Language Learners Definition of audition

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a short performance to show the talents of someone (such as an actor or a musician) who is being considered for a role in a play, a position in an orchestra, etc.

audition

verb

English Language Learners Definition of audition (Entry 2 of 2)

of a performer : to try out for a role in a play or film, a position in an orchestra, etc. : to perform in an audition

: to test (someone) in an audition

See the full definition for audition in the English Language Learners Dictionary

audition

noun

au·di·tion | \ ȯ-ˈdi-shən

\

Kids Definition of audition

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a short performance to test the talents of someone (as a singer, dancer, or actor)

audition

verb

auditioned; auditioning

Kids Definition of audition (Entry 2 of 2)

: to test or try out in a short performance He auditioned for a part in the play. They auditioned her for the lead role.

audition

noun

au·di·tion | \ ȯ-ˈdish-ən

\

Medical Definition of audition

1 : the power or sense of hearing

2 : the act of hearing

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