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

The packed audience included several luminaries including IFFI festival director, the filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, leading actor Suhasini Mani Ratnam, actor-politician Khushbu Sundar and cinematographers Ravi Varman and Santosh Sivan, both of whom have worked extensively with Ratnam. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024

Any wider release of the film will rely on the audience to do so and the question of whether that is possible will likely dominate discussion. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024

After Streep posed a number of questions to Gomez, the three-time Oscar winner invited questions from the audience. —Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024

This should be a working document that can always be updated when new benefits are added or tailored with specific content for targeted audiences. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 22 Nov. 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