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

Saldaña has reason to feel good about keeping her box office crown, too. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026

The same, meanwhile, is not the case in film, where animation is faring well, as illustrated in the latest box office figures, which were released yesterday. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026

The award for cinematic and box office achievement went to Sinners, so Göransson was able to take the stage on the telecast (as a key member of the creative team of Ryan Coogler’s film), though only music nerds would have been able to ID him. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 12 Jan. 2026

Stand-up specials, box office achievement, podcasts. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 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