Auditory
adjective /ˈɔːdɪtri/ — Of or relating to hearing — the sense that never entirely sleeps.
Definition
Relating to the sense of hearing; relating to or perceived by the ear; of or concerning the organs of hearing.
Beyond the definition
Auditory is the precision word for the hearing sense — it marks the difference between 'I heard something' and 'this is a quality of the sound itself.' The auditory memory is often the most involuntary: a melody can retrieve a decade.
Origin & history
From Latin auditorius — relating to hearing (from audire: to hear). The formal adjective for the sense that cannot be closed: the ear has no equivalent of eyelids.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She had a strong auditory memory — music did what photographs couldn't: it returned the exact quality of a moment.
The auditory texture of the city changed completely after midnight — fewer voices, more mechanical.
Some people think visually; she thought auditorily, in rhythms and tones.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Auditory” when the meaning fits your context: Relating to the sense of hearing; relating to or perceived by the ear; of or concerning the organs of hearing.
Synonyms
acoustic, aural, hearing-related
Antonyms
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Orchestral Conductor's Peak Intensity
A conductor stands in the middle of an orchestra, their body in an expansive, intense gesture as the music hits a climax.
The conductor's focus on the music illustrates the auditory experience, as they guide the ensemble to produce sound. The image captures the dynamic, sonic power of the music being perceived and controlled through their hearing and their physical movements.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Auditory" mean?
Auditory is adjective meaning: Of or relating to hearing — the sense that never entirely sleeps.. Relating to the sense of hearing; relating to or perceived by the ear; of or concerning the organs of hearing.
Where does the word "Auditory" come from?
From Latin auditorius — relating to hearing (from audire: to hear). The formal adjective for the sense that cannot be closed: the ear has no equivalent of eyelids.