Words / B1

ORD-ee-uh-ns/ˈɔːdiəns/

An audience is the people watching or listening — a play, a talk, a video. A crowd is a large group in a street or stadium, not always watching a performance. Spectators watch sport; viewers watch TV. Address / hold / lose an audience appear in exam texts. Audience is usually singular even when it means many people: the audience was silent.

Meaning

The people who watch or listen to a performance or talk.

Examples

• “The audience clapped at the end.”
• “The speaker held the audience from the first minute.”
• “Online videos can reach a huge audience.”

Good to know

an audience (often singular verb). Sport: spectators. TV: viewers. Street: crowd.

Near in meaning

viewers

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