- a trial hearing given to a singer, actor, or other performer to test suitability for employment, professional training or competition, etc.
- a reading or other simplified rendering of a theatrical work, performed before a potential backer, producer, etc.
- the act, sense, or power of hearing.
- something that is heard.
- to try or compete in an audition: to audition aspiring actors; to audition for the leading role.
Origin of audition
Examples from the Web for audition
My agent at the time sent that tape to SNL and then they asked me to come in for an audition.
I went into the audition as Fericito, the Venezuelan percussionist, and then I did a self-defense expert.
A few years back, Belle and Sebastian even penned a song, “Suicide Girl,” about a woman trying to audition to be one.Masters of Alt Sex: SuicideGirls Hits Puberty and Wants to Invade Your TV Set
December 9, 2014
Alan just happened to be in New York auditioning people, and I got in the room to audition for the first time.Michael C. Hall on Going Drag for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ and Exorcising ‘Dexter’
December 4, 2014
She says her modeling agency landed her an audition, and she got the job.Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004
November 24, 2014
Experiments lead me to believe that these are organs of audition.The Dawn of Reason
The science of audition and sound; that branch of physics which treats of their cause, nature, and phenomena.
Audition is cognition of principles, conversant about all articulate sounds.The Sarva-Darsana-Samgraha
She was not a baby-farm after all, and the audition of these squalling nurslings vexed her.Mr. Punch's Country Life
If you're going to audition for the stars, cut down the volume!Where I Wasn't Going
- a test at which a performer or musician is asked to demonstrate his ability for a particular role, etc
- the act, sense, or power of hearing
- to judge by means of or be tested in an audition
Word Origin and History for audition
1590s, "power of hearing," from Middle French audicion "hearing (in a court of law)," from Latin auditionem (nominative auditio) "a hearing, listening to," noun of action from past participle stem of audire "hear" (see audience). Meaning "trial for a performer" first recorded 1881.
"to try out for a performance part," 1935, from audition (n.). Transitive sense by 1944. Related: Auditioned; auditioning.
- The sense, ability, or power of hearing.