houseful

American  

[hous-fool] / ˈhaʊs fʊl /

noun

plural

housefuls

1. as many as a house will accommodate.

   a houseful of weekend guests.

2. as much as a house will hold.

   He had several housefuls of furniture.

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houseful British  

/ ˈhaʊsfʊl /

noun

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

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Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of houseful

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

Example Sentences

My brother, who previously lived in Huntington Beach, kept bugging me about going south to hang out with a houseful of his friends — in Orange County!

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2024

The 1935 film was a huge hit, running houseful in theatres for weeks, and Evans went on to become the top box-office female star of the 1930s and 1940s, according to Thomas.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 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

I could have done without the flies and the primitive theaters, but I wouldn't have minded growing up with a houseful of servants.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris