I had an audition today vs Interview vs Performance

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

I had an audition today

Top 2,000 (common)

Interview

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun

Performance

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
 I had an audition todayInterviewPerformance
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //aʊˈdɪʃ.ən//🇺🇸 //ɑˈdɪʃ.ən//🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪntəvjuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪntərvjuː/"]/🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːməns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrməns/"]/
MeaningA chance to perform for someone to get a role.A meeting where someone is asked questions to get a job.How well someone does something, especially in a play or a competition.
ExampleI had an audition today for a new movie role.I have a job interview tomorrow at 10 AM.The performance of the team improved significantly after the new coach was hired.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1B1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationshave an audition, perform an audition, audition for a role, prepare for an audition, successful auditionface-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviews, face-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviews, face-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviewslive, 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-dismissal, rejectionfailure, 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'.Confusing 'interview' as a verb and a noun., Using a plural form incorrectly (e.g., 'interviews' when discussing one instance)., Not pairing the word properly with prepositions (e.g., saying 'interview for a job' instead of 'interview with a company').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 'interview' in job contexts or when talking about a conversation where questions are asked. Avoid using it in casual situations not related to job hiring.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 Interview vs Performance

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

I had an audition today: A chance to perform for someone to get a role. Interview: A meeting where someone is asked questions to get a job. Performance: How well someone does something, especially in a play or a competition.

Which is more advanced: I had an audition today, Interview, and Performance?

Performance is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

I had an audition today: I had an audition today for a new movie role. Interview: I have a job interview tomorrow at 10 AM. Performance: The performance of the team improved significantly after the new coach was hired.

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

Not always. I had an audition today, Interview, 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.