open house

noun

1

: ready and usually informal hospitality or entertainment for all comers

2

: a house or apartment open for inspection especially by prospective buyers or tenants

Examples of open house in a Sentence

Westside High School will host an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. today, and all parents are invited to attend.

colleges holding open houses for prospective students

We held an open house last week in the hopes that someone would offer to buy our house.

They kept open house, and in the evenings neighbors would stop by to talk or play music.

They always kept an open house for visitors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Before browsing listings or attending open houses, prospective buyers should take the time to understand their current financial capabilities and the options available to them. — Patricia Mason, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 2026

Communicate early and figure out what works Schools typically offer several early opportunities for parents and teachers to connect, from meet-the-teacher events and back-to-school nights to open houses. — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

An open house for Rosemont residents is on Sunday, followed by the public grand opening Tuesday. — Christopher Placek, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

How to attend the open house An Olathe city spokesperson said Wednesday that the open house is anticipated to focus on work at Old 56 Highway and Santa Fe. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for open house

• boardinghouse
• charterhouse
• clearinghouse
• coffeehouse
• customhouse
• firehouse
• meetinghouse
• motherhouse
• packinghouse
• pilothouse
• powerhouse
• slaughterhouse

Kids Definition

open house

noun

: usually informal hospitality or entertainment for all comers