audience
gb/ˈɔdiəns/ us/ˈɔdiəns/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
group watching a performance
A group of people who watch or listen to something like a play, movie, concert, or speech.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] has an audience of [number]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'audience' with 'crowd'. A 'crowd' is any large group of people together, but an 'audience' is specifically there to watch or listen to something.
Synonyms
spectators (Refers specifically to people watching an event, often sports or public performances.)
|
viewers (Used more for people watching television or online video rather than live events.)
Antonyms
performers (The people giving the show or speech, opposite of those watching.)
Collocations
live audience
|studio audience
|audience applause
|audience reaction
|address an audience
Themes
entertainment
|media
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The audience applauded loudly after the final scene.
- She spoke confidently to the large audience.
- The comedian quickly won over the audience with his jokes.
- The movie was shown to a small test audience before its release.
- Members of the audience asked questions after the lecture.
Learner examples
- The audience clapped at the end.
- He sang in front of a big audience.
- The audience laughed at the funny story.
- She looked at the audience before she started.
- The audience listened quietly.
Noun
B1
entity
2
intended readers or viewers
The people a message, book, movie, or ad is made for.
Usage pattern:
target an audience of [group/type]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the live spectators sense. In this meaning, the audience may not be physically present.
Synonyms
readership (Refers specifically to the readers of a publication.)
|
market (In business contexts, refers to potential customers for a product or service.)
Antonyms
non-target group (People for whom a message is not intended.)
Collocations
target audience
|intended audience
|reach an audience
|audience demographics
Themes
media
|communication
|marketing
|business
Examples
- The book is aimed at a young adult audience.
- Our target audience is working parents.
- Advertisers are trying to reach a wider audience.
- The film failed to connect with its intended audience.
- Understanding your audience is key to effective communication.
Learner examples
- The movie is for a young audience.
- This ad is for an older audience.
- The book has a small audience.
- We want to reach a big audience.
- Our audience is students.
Noun
formal
C1
event
3
formal meeting with dignitary
A special meeting with an important person like a king or pope.
Usage pattern:
have an audience with [someone important]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this means a normal crowd listening; in this sense it is one-on-one or small group access to an important person.
Synonyms
interview (In older or formal contexts, can mean a meeting with an important person, but now more common for job interviews.)
Antonyms
refusal to meet (When the important person declines to see someone.)
Collocations
grant an audience
|request an audience
|private audience
Themes
politics
|religion
Examples
- The ambassador was granted an audience with the queen.
- They requested an audience with the president to discuss the issue.
- During his visit, he had a private audience with the Pope.
Learner examples
- He had an audience with the king.
- They asked for an audience with the leader.
- She got an audience with the mayor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
audience
IPA
GB/ˈɔdiəns/
US/ˈɔdiəns/
Syllables & stress
audi - ence (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (audi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: audience
- Plural: audiences
Word family
Expressions
play to the gallery (or play to the audience)
1/plˈeɪ tə ðə ɡˈælɚi ˈɔɹ plˈeɪ tə ðə ˈɔdiəns/
idiom
act mainly to please spectators
To act in a way that is meant to get applause or approval from people watching, not to be serious.
Examples
- The politician was accused of playing to the gallery instead of addressing real issues.
- He tends to play to the audience when he tells jokes.
target audience
1/tˈɑɹɡət ˈɔdiəns/
fixed phrase
specific intended group of people
The exact group of people that something is made for.
Examples
- The target audience for this toy is children aged 5 to 8.
- Knowing your target audience helps you create better ads.
captive audience
1/kˈæptɪv ˈɔdiəns/
fixed phrase
an audience with no choice
A group of people who must listen or watch because they cannot leave.
Examples
- With the passengers stuck on the plane, the speaker had a captive audience.
- With the train delayed, the vendor had a captive audience on the platform.
- Students on a long bus ride became a captive audience for his stories.
- Airlines play ads to a captive audience before takeoff.