# audition

/ɑˈdɪʃən/ (US) · /ɔːdˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/audition
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. performer's trial

noun · CEFR B2

a short performance that an actor, singer, or dancer gives to show they are good enough for a job.

For teachers: a trial performance given by an entertainer to demonstrate suitability for a role or position.

- She was very nervous before her audition for the lead role in the school play.
- The director scheduled a second audition for the three finalists to see how their voices blended in a trio.

### 2. the sense of hearing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the physical ability or act of hearing sounds.

For teachers: the faculty or sense of hearing; the physiological process of perceiving sound.

- The doctor tested the patient's audition to see if the inner ear was damaged.
- The research paper explores how spatial audition allows humans to locate sound sources in complex environments.

Usage: In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in medical or psychological contexts.

### 3. to perform for a role

verb · CEFR B2

to give a short performance to try and get a job in a play or show.

For teachers: to perform in an audition as an applicant for a role or position.

- He is going to audition for a part in a new television commercial tomorrow.
- Hundreds of hopeful young actors queued outside the studio to audition for the upcoming musical.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'for'.

### 4. to judge a performer

verb · CEFR B2

to watch or listen to a performer to decide if they are right for a job.

For teachers: to conduct an audition of a performer; to evaluate a candidate's suitability through a trial performance.

- The band spent the whole afternoon auditioning new drummers.
- The casting agency has been auditioning talent for three weeks but has yet to find the right lead.

## Examples

- She has an audition for the lead role tomorrow.
- After months of practice, the young violinist finally secured an audition with the national symphony orchestra.
- The casting director noted that while her technical skills were impressive during the initial audition, she lacked the specific emotional range required for such a demanding dramatic lead.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.