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

Indies including newcomer Runner and holdover Buddy nabbed five of the top 10 spots at the domestic box office this weekend. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026

Silicon Valley has paled in comparison to Wall Street as a sexy subject matter on the big screen historically, as research by Rentrak found, though box office totals are not apples-to-apples comparisons of performance. — Liz Rappaport, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026

The Warners power duo behind recent box office hits like Sinners, Weapons and Oscar-winner One Battle After Another both agreed taking risks on movies in Hollywood calls for supporting the best directors and creatives. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

The band — singer Caleb Followill, brothers Jared Followill on bass and Nathan Followill on drums, and cousin Matthew Followill on lead guitar — announced the pop-up gig just a day earlier, with tickets sold only at the Basement East box office. — Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for box office

• interoffice

Kids Definition

box office

noun

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