auditorium

auditorium — noun

1. the audience seating section in a theatre, concert space, or similar venue

1.nounC1
Definition

the audience seating section in a theatre, concert space, or similar venue

Example

Latecomers stood by the door until seats opened in the auditorium.

in the auditorium

From the stage, Mei could see every face in the dark auditorium.

view from the stage

Common collocations
  • dark auditorium
  • packed auditorium
  • auditorium seats
  • the back of the auditorium
  • the front of the auditorium
Synonyms
  • seating area

    a general descriptive phrase for the place where people sit

  • house

    a theatre word for the audience side of the room

  • hall

    broader and can also mean the whole room, not just the seats

Grammar Patterns

in the auditorium

the back of the auditorium

auditorium seats

Usage Note

Often contrasted with the stage. Distinguish from sense 2, which can mean the whole hall or building rather than only the audience seating area.

Common Mistakes

We waited on the auditorium before the play.
We waited in the auditorium before the play.
auditorium is an enclosed space, so in is the usual preposition.

2. a large hall for concerts, meetings, ceremonies, and other public events

2.nounC1
Definition

a large hall for concerts, meetings, ceremonies, and other public events

Example

Parents filled the town auditorium for the winter music show.

town auditorium

The science fair moved to the new auditorium beside the library.

new auditorium

Common collocations
  • school auditorium
  • town auditorium
  • book the auditorium
  • new auditorium
  • auditorium sound system
Synonyms
  • hall

    the closest general word, though it can refer to many kinds of large rooms

  • assembly hall

    especially used for a school or institution meeting space

  • venue

    broader and focuses on the event location rather than the room type

  • theatre

    more strongly connected with staged performances

Grammar Patterns

book the auditorium

in the auditorium

the school auditorium

Usage Note

Common for school, university, and civic venues. Distinguish from sense 1 when you need to talk only about the audience seating part inside a theatre or hall.

Common Mistakes

Our school built a new audience last year.
Our school built a new auditorium last year.
audience means the people watching or listening, not the hall itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

For sense 2, auditorium usually suggests a large indoor place built for people to gather and listen, often with a stage or sound system. Hall is the broadest alternative and can mean many kinds of large room. Assembly hall is narrower and is especially common for schools or institutions. Venue is broader still, because it only means the place where an event happens and does not describe the room type. Theatre is closer when the focus is on staged performances. A school may hold graduation in the auditorium or assembly hall, but a concert website may simply list the venue.

auditorium ↗hall ↗assembly hallvenue ↗theatre ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • auditorium doors
  • auditorium lights

Phrases

  • enter the auditorium
  • leave the auditorium

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Auditorium came into English from Latin auditorium, meaning a place for hearing. It is based on the verb audire, meaning hear. That history matches the modern word, which refers to a space designed for people to listen to speeches, music, or other performances.