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

The film ultimately received generally favorable reviews, two Oscar nominations and was a box office success. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Premium formats have become an increasingly important part of box office success because audiences continue to pay more for an enhanced theatrical experience. — David Deal, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

But not every Spidey film has had this level of box office success. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The film will open in the run-up to Korea’s Chuseok holiday (September 24-26), a three-day public holiday that is one of the territory’s peak box office periods. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 4 Aug. 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