audience
//ˈɔːdi.əns//
Forms
- Plural
- audiences
Definitions
1.A group of people within hearing; specifically, a large gathering of people listening to or watching a performance, speech, etc.
- We joined the audience just as the lights went down.
2.A widespread or nationwide viewing or listening public, as of a TV or radio network or program.
- Tom was in the audience.
3.A formal meeting with a state or religious dignitary.
- She managed to get an audience with the Pope.
4.The readership of a book or other written publication.
- "Private Eye" has a small but faithful audience.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1159
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English audience, from Middle French audience, from Old French audience, from Latin audientia, from present participle audiēns (“hearing”), from verb audiō (“to hear”).
Doublet of audiencia.