box office

noun

1
a
: an office (as in a theater) where tickets of admission are sold
b
: income from ticket sales (as for a film)
2
: the ability (as of a show) to attract ticket buyers
also : something that enhances that ability
any publicity is good box office

Examples of box office in a Sentence

The box office will open at 10:00 a.m.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This story has been updated with final box office tally. Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, that weekend, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl hit Number One at the domestic box office. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025 Two movies followed in 2011 and 2014, both of which topped the UK box office. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025 In the years after the movie's box office success, Chain Saw was eventually changed to Chainsaw and the franchise released nine sequels, prequels and spinoffs. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for box office

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of box office was in 1741

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Cite this Entry

“Box office.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20office. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

box office

noun
: an office in a public place (as a theater or stadium) where admission tickets are sold

More from Merriam-Webster on box office

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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