houseful

American

[hous-fool] / ˈhaʊs fʊl /

noun

plural

housefuls

as many as a house will accommodate.

a houseful of weekend guests.
as much as a house will hold.

He had several housefuls of furniture.

houseful British

/ ˈhaʊsfʊl /

noun

the full amount or number that can be accommodated in a particular house

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of houseful

1250–1300; Middle English. See house, -ful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also managed a visit to see his gran, as well as welcoming a houseful of well-wishing visitors.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2024

Admittedly, a houseful of teenagers piloting their own lives sounds risky, even with staff on site, and choosing the right kids for this program will be key to its success.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

While Odysseus' wife is being badgered by a houseful of uncouth suitors eager to take her husband's place and wealth, the titular hero is trapped on the island of the goddess Calypso.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2022

Also, the cost can be high if you have to test a houseful of people.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2021

“At least now when Celia testifies against him in court, they’ll have a houseful of hard evidence to back her up.”

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023