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

• following
• fandom
• cult

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

Pratt has been asked to leverage his social media audience — more than 4 million followers across the major platforms — to speak out about accountability issues involving the wildfires in Altadena and Maui. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025

In this battle for reputation protection, no one’s a winner — including the audience who might just want to shower after all this nastiness and cruelty ends. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

Did the reception from audiences around the world meet your expectations? —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025

In both cases, the performing and consuming elements get dialed up, leading to a subtle blurring of communities with audiences, of communication with content. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025

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