I had an audition today vs Performance

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

I had an audition today

Top 2,000 (common)

Performance

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Most common: Performance
 I had an audition todayPerformance
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //aʊˈdɪʃ.ən//🇺🇸 //ɑˈdɪʃ.ən//🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːməns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrməns/"]/
MeaningA chance to perform for someone to get a role.How well someone does something, especially in a play or a competition.
ExampleI had an audition today for a new movie role.The performance of the team improved significantly after the new coach was hired.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechnoun
Collocationshave an audition, perform an audition, audition for a role, prepare for an audition, successful auditionlive, public, evening, give, put on, stage, feature somebody/​something, art, poetry, artist, in performance, brilliant, convincing, dazzling, deliver, give, produce, benchmark, indicator, level, performance as, performance from, performance on, a level of performance, a measure of performance, a standard of performance, high, maximum, optimal, affect, influence, assess, boost
Antonyms-failure, inactivity
Common mistakesConfusing 'audition' with 'audience', which refers to the viewers., Using 'audition' as a noun without a context, such as 'I had audition today' instead of 'an audition'.Confused with 'performancer,' which is incorrect., Using 'performance' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing types of performance, like sports vs. arts.
Usage notesUsed in contexts related to acting or music, generally informal. A common phrase among performers.Use 'performance' when discussing shows, competitions, or work output. It's neutral, suitable for both casual and formal settings, but avoid in very casual contexts.

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I had an audition today
Performance

Frequently asked questions: I had an audition today vs Performance

What's the difference between I had an audition today and Performance?

I had an audition today: A chance to perform for someone to get a role. Performance: How well someone does something, especially in a play or a competition.

Which is more common: I had an audition today and Performance?

Performance is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

I had an audition today: I had an audition today for a new movie role. Performance: The performance of the team improved significantly after the new coach was hired.

Can I use I had an audition today and Performance interchangeably?

Not always. I had an audition today and Performance are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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