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

As much purpose as Garfield has in investigating emotion and offering it to a wide audience, his life as a performer has changed as he’s gotten older and especially after losing his mother to pancreatic cancer in 2019. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2024

Washington Examiner White House Reporter Naomi Lim joins Magazine Executive Editor Jim Antle to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris maintaining a robust media presence, with Democratic strategists generally optimistic about the approach, viewing it as a way to connect with a diverse audience. —Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Oct. 2024

There is an audience that needs a significant level of computing power in their life, and many in that audience need it in the portable form factor of a laptop. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

At this point, the audience was still reeling from an electric Tortured Poets Department set that included a rare surprise guest. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Oct. 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