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 Bollywood hit from Moviegoers Entertainment is the top grossing Indian film ever at the North American box office. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2026

In addition to best motion picture and TV series, acting awards in film and TV and director and screenplay honors in film, the Globes recognize best stand-up comedy performance on TV and, in film, cinematic and box office achievement. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2026

Enter Ticketmaster, founded in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, by Albert Leffler, a former box office manager; Peter Gadwa, who developed the Ticketmaster Operating System (TMOS); and businessman Gordon Gunn III, who secured capital for the venture. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

New Line surpassed $1 billion at the global box office in 2025 from horror titles alone. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 1 Apr. 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