box-office

¹ American  

[boks-aw-fis, -of-is] / ˈbɒksˌɔ fɪs, -ˌɒf ɪs /

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.

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box office ² American  

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.

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box office British  

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

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box office Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of box-office¹

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

Origin of box office¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

The Oscar winner has grossed more than $15.47 billion at the international box office, according to box office tracking website the Numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

"But his box office pull and fandom are huge and undeniably influential. Dancing, comedy and a keen understanding of populist cinema are his strengths."

From BBC

Replacing those “the more you know” graphics were poll results predicting wins that were foregone conclusions, like “Sinners” eventual win for the relatively new award of best cinematic and box office achievement.

From Salon

Paul Thomas Anderson won best film director and screenplay for One Battle After Another; and Sinners was given the box office achievement honour and best score.

From BBC

The film, with Farhan Akhtar as Major Shaitan Singh, failed at the box office but succeeded in spotlighting a battle often described as the only silver lining in a war India lost.

From BBC

Related Words

• gate