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 final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

This famous old cricketing arena was buzzing with anticipation at the first sight in this series of the biggest danger to England’s hopes and the biggest box office attraction of five Tests in the next six weeks. —Paul Newman, New York Times, 21 June 2025

At the time, Slumdog Millionaire was a box office hit and went on to earn 10 Oscar nominations and win eight Academy Awards at the 2009 ceremony. —Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025

Tickets are $45 to $65 and will go on sale June 30 at 10 a.m. through the Jorgensen Center box office. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2025

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