box office

¹

noun

1. the office of a theater, stadium, or the like, at which tickets are sold.

2. Theater.

   1. receipts from a play or other entertainment.

   2. entertainment popular enough to attract paying audiences and make a profit.

      This show will be good box office.

box-office

²

[boks-aw-fis, -of-is]

adjective

1. of or relating to the box office or to the business and commercial aspects of the theater.

   a box-office window; box-office receipts; a box-office attraction.

box office

noun

1. an office at a theatre, cinema, etc, where tickets are sold

2. the receipts from a play, film, etc

3. 1. the public appeal of an actor or production

      the musical was bad box office

   2. ( as modifier )

      a box-office success

Word History and Origins

Origin of box office¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Origin of box office²

First recorded in 1805–15; adj. use of box office

Idioms and Phrases

The office where seats for a play, concert, or other form of entertainment may be purchased, as in Tickets are available at the box office . It is so called because originally (17th century) it was the place for hiring a box, a special compartment of theater seats set aside for ladies. [Second half of 1700s]

The financial receipts from a performance; also, a show's relative success in attracting a paying audience. For example, You may not consider it great art, but this play is good box office . [c. 1900]

Example Sentences

After “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” dominated the box office over the weekend, some were left scratching their heads.

From Salon

Out of Africa won a fistful of awards, but Havana was badly received and lost money at the box office.

From BBC

But early retirement seems unlikely ... especially when he continues to be a box office magnet.

From Los Angeles Times

The box office shows there’s a demand to be met, as many classic titles outearn various new releases during opening weekends.

From Los Angeles Times

An anime film slayed its Hollywood competition at the box office this weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gate