audience
- Noun:
- A group of people who watch, listen to, or read something: The people gathered to see a performance, hear a speech, or consume a piece of media.
- A formal meeting with a person of high rank: A private interview or hearing granted by a monarch, pope, or other important figure.
- The act of hearing or listening (archaic): The state or opportunity of being heard.
Noun (Group of spectators/listeners/readers): The audience laughed at the comedian's jokes.The book found a new audience among young adults.The television show has a global audience.
Noun (Formal meeting): The ambassador was granted an audience with the Queen.He requested a private audience to discuss the matter.
"To have an audience with someone": To be granted a formal meeting, especially with a person of authority. The diplomat sought to have an audience with the president.
"To play to the audience": To perform or act in a way specifically designed to please or appeal to the people watching. The politician was clearly playing to the audience with his promises.
"To lose one's audience": To fail to maintain the attention or interest of the listeners or spectators. The complex lecture caused the speaker to lose his audience.
- Auditorium (n): The part of a theater or hall where the audience sits.
- Auditory (adj): Relating to the sense of hearing.
- Audition (n): A trial performance by an actor, singer, or musician, typically for a role, which is judged by an audience of select people (the judges).
- Spectators: People who watch an event, especially a sports event or show.
- Viewers: People who watch television.
- Listeners: People who listen, especially to the radio.
- Readership: The collective readers of a publication.
- Congregation: An assembly of people, especially for religious worship (context-specific synonym).
Target audience: The specific group of people at which a product, advertisement, or message is aimed. The advertisement was designed for a target audience of teenagers.
Captive audience: Listeners or spectators who cannot easily leave and are thus compelled to pay attention. The passengers on the plane were a captive audience for the safety demonstration.
- "Preaching to the choir": Trying to persuade people who already agree with you. (This idiom relates to the concept of addressing an audience that is already convinced.)
- a conference (usually with someone important)
- he had a consultation with the judge
- he requested an audience with the king
- an opportunity to state your case and be heard
- they condemned him without a hearing
- he saw that he had lost his audience
- the part of the general public interested in a source of information or entertainment
- every artist needs an audience
- the broadcast reached an audience of millions
- a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
- the audience applauded
- someone in the audience began to cough