audience

noun

au·​di·​ence ˈȯ-dē-ən(t)s How to pronounce audience (audio)
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.

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 But there’s a precedent for college stars bringing large audiences with them to the WNBA. Alex Leeds Matthews and Ben Morse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Swed reports that the symphony has an enviable endowment ($315 million) and audiences had picked up after the pandemic, but cutbacks still loomed. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024 There are Purim spiels which re-enact the story (with the audience drowning out the name of Haman), often mapping it onto social critiques of the day. Deena Prichep, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 Related Stories The newest Ghostbusters entry is challenged by middling reviews and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, compared to an A- for Afterlife. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2024 While Noa had hyped up the audience, Kaarl hypnotized them, holding them in rapt attention. Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024 Yet this is a decades-long conflict that few know about, and so the film forces the audience to reckon with its own ignorance. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 And the target audience of older tweens and teens is likely to enjoy the movie’s focus on 15-year-old Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and the other smart, capable teen characters. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 But Hur insisted that his audience was still Garland alone, citing a regulation which states that the special counsel should prepare a confidential report for the Attorney General. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'audience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of audience was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near audience

Cite this Entry

“Audience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audience. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

audience

noun
au·​di·​ence ˈȯd-ē-ən(t)s How to pronounce audience (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on audience

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!