telephone book
noun
: a book listing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of telephone customers
Examples of telephone book in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like pages torn from old telephone books— all of the names swallowed up by the cold.
—
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The easiest pressing method calls for absorbent paper and heavy books (like an old telephone book).
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Also included were the original back bar phone and Boston area telephone book.
—Brittany Bowker, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2023
But in all fairness, Catherine Keener would be great just reading a telephone book.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022
Another recurring theme in the book brings to mind William F. Buckley’s pronouncement (which has many versions) that he would rather be governed by names taken from the telephone book than by the Harvard faculty.
—Fred O’Brien, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
Facebook has become the telephone book (and birthday calendar) of the Internet.
—Joanna Stern, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2021
The telephone book of that year lists 19 Food Fair stores, a competing chain based in Philadelphia but well known throughout Baltimore for its distinctive pylon architecture and aggressive marketing campaigns.
—Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 10 July 2021
Then the Restoration Hardware catalogue arrives, like a parody of the whole problem, in two volumes, each the size of a telephone book.
—Eula Biss, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2020
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The easiest pressing method calls for absorbent paper and heavy books (like an old telephone book).
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Also included were the original back bar phone and Boston area telephone book.
—Brittany Bowker, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2023
But in all fairness, Catherine Keener would be great just reading a telephone book.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022
Another recurring theme in the book brings to mind William F. Buckley’s pronouncement (which has many versions) that he would rather be governed by names taken from the telephone book than by the Harvard faculty.
—Fred O’Brien, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
Facebook has become the telephone book (and birthday calendar) of the Internet.
—Joanna Stern, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2021
The telephone book of that year lists 19 Food Fair stores, a competing chain based in Philadelphia but well known throughout Baltimore for its distinctive pylon architecture and aggressive marketing campaigns.
—Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 10 July 2021
Then the Restoration Hardware catalogue arrives, like a parody of the whole problem, in two volumes, each the size of a telephone book.
—Eula Biss, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telephone book.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near telephone book
Cite this Entry
“Telephone book.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephone%20book. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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