audition

/ɔːˈdɪʃən/

noun

  1. A short performance or test in which someone shows their skill to be considered for a role or job in a play, film, or musical group.

    B1

    countable

    • "She has an audition for the school play tomorrow."A2
    • "Hundreds of dancers turned up for the audition."B1
    • "After several auditions, the director chose a newcomer for the leading role."B2

  2. The ability to hear; the sense of hearing.

    C1

    uncountableformal

    • "The doctor tested his audition with a series of tones."C1

verb

  1. To perform or try out for a role or job in a play, film, or musical group.

    B1

    intransitive; often followed by “for”

    • "I’m auditioning for the school musical."A2
    • "Hundreds of actors auditioned for the part, but only a few were called back."B2

  2. To make someone perform a short piece so you can judge their skill and decide whether to employ them.

    B2

    transitive

    • "The director auditioned over fifty actors for the role."B2

Common mistakes

  • do an audition→have an audition

    Use 'have' or 'go to' with 'audition' as a noun; 'do' is less idiomatic.

  • audition to a role→audition for a role

    The preposition after 'audition' is 'for'.

Collocations

audition for a roleaudition for a partaudition for a musicalaudition tapeopen auditionfinal auditionaudition processcallback audition

Word family

auditionerauditioningauditioneeauditioned