audience
Definitions
The people gathered to watch or listen to a performance, speech, or broadcast
观众，听众（现场观看或聆听的人群）
The particular group of people a work, message, or product is aimed at
受众，目标人群（作品、信息或产品所面向的群体）
A formal interview or meeting with an important person
正式的会见，接见（与重要人物的会面）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedaudi (hear) + -ence (state/group) = 'those in a state of hearing.' It began as the people listening to a speaker, then widened to anyone watching a play, film, or broadcast, and finally to any group a message targets. The same root explains a rarer sense: an 'audience' with a king is a session where you are heard.
Root audit still carries 7 more wordsUsage Guide
- As a collective noun: 'the audience was/were silent' — singular verb in AmE, often plural in BrE when stressing individuals.
- Performance sense: live audience, studio audience, captive audience.
- Marketing sense: target audience, reach an audience, build an audience.
- Formal sense: 'an audience with' someone powerful (the Pope, a monarch) — a granted meeting, not a casual chat.
Example Sentences
- 1.
The comedian had the whole audience laughing within minutes.
- 2.
We need to write for a younger audience on social media.
- 3.
Knowing your target audience is the first step in marketing.
- 4.
The ambassador was granted an audience with the queen.