ticket
Americannoun
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tickets
plural
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a slip, usually of paper or cardboard, serving as evidence that the holder has paid a fare or admission or is entitled to some service, right, or the like.
a railroad ticket; a theater ticket.
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a summons issued for a traffic or parking violation.
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a written or printed slip of paper, cardboard, etc., affixed to something to indicate its nature, price, or the like; label or tag.
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a slate of candidates nominated by a particular party or faction and running together in an election.
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the license of a ship's officer or of an aviation pilot.
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Banking. a preliminary recording of transactions prior to their entry in more permanent books of account.
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Informal. the proper or advisable thing.
That's the ticket! Warm milk and toast is just the ticket for you.
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Archaic. a placard.
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Obsolete. a short note, notice, or memorandum.
verb (used with object)
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tickets,
present (3rd person singular)
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ticketed,
past participle, past
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ticketing
present participle
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to attach a ticket to; distinguish by means of a ticket; label.
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to furnish with a ticket, as on the railroad.
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to serve with a summons for a traffic or parking violation.
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to attach such a summons to.
to ticket illegally parked cars.
idioms
noun
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a piece of paper, cardboard, etc, showing that the holder is entitled to certain rights, such as travel on a train or bus, entry to a place of public entertainment, etc
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(modifier) concerned with or relating to the issue, sale, or checking of tickets
a ticket office
ticket collector
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a piece of card, cloth, etc, attached to an article showing information such as its price, size, or washing instructions
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a summons served for a parking offence or violation of traffic regulations
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informal the certificate of competence issued to a ship's captain or an aircraft pilot
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the group of candidates nominated by one party in an election; slate
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the declared policy of a political party at an election
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informal a certificate of discharge from the armed forces
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informal the right or appropriate thing
that's the ticket
-
informal to be conceited
verb
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to issue or attach a ticket or tickets to
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informal to earmark for a particular purpose
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ticketsimple
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ticketssimple
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have ticketedperfect
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has ticketedperfect
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am ticketingprogressive
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are ticketingprogressive
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is ticketingprogressive
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have been ticketingperfect progressive
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has been ticketingperfect progressive
Past
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ticketedsimple
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had ticketedperfect
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was ticketingprogressive
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were ticketingprogressive
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had been ticketingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ticket
1520–30; 1925–30 ticket for def. 4; earlier tiket < Middle French etiquet memorandum. See etiquette
Explanation
A ticket is the slip of paper or card you need to be admitted to a movie theater, a museum, or an airplane. Your ticket proves that you've paid or been invited. Other types of tickets include the ones you get as a receipt or bill, and the kind a traffic officer hands you when you're caught driving 40 miles per hour in a 30 MPH zone. In the U.S., ticket is also used to mean "ballot," as in "I'm not excited either of the candidates on that party's ticket." If someone tells you "That's the ticket!", they mean you've made exactly the right choice.
Vocabulary lists containing ticket
U.S. Government - Introductory
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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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.
See Examples For:
North American ticket sales for “Other Mommy,” the new horror movie from Universal Pictures, leading the domestic box office despite poor reviews by both theatergoers and critics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
The Colorado Rockies lost 100 games for the fourth consecutive year — and they raised season ticket prices 12%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
The star - who did not give any further details - also apologised to her fans, saying additional information regarding ticket refunds "will be shared as soon as possible".
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
He’s reminding them who their meal ticket is.
From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2026
“There is one extra ticket, Nory. Granny’s ticket. And it is for you.”
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
High school sports programs are filled with dozens of volunteers — manning the snack bar, taking tickets, helping provide security, cleaning floors, carrying equipment and taking statistics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Supporters regularly have to queue for hours to purchase match tickets at the stadium's small box office as Rayo is the only top-flight Spanish club without a ticketing website.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
The high-concept satire from writer-director Alejandro González Iñárritu, which cost about $125 million to make, sold just $8 million worth of tickets at more than 3,300 domestic theaters its opening weekend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
The highest-priced tickets were available at £13,128, including booking fees, with the lowest at £88.50.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Those hard times when Chokecherry Middle School couldn’t sell enough raffle tickets to even pay for the prize might as well be a hundred years ago.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Live on Sunset is distinct from the previous Sunset Strip Music Festival, which was a ticketed event, and ran for seven years, ending in 2014.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Caldwell also violated ethics rules by bringing guests to ticketed events without paying for them, the report said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Orange County records show Wehr had been ticketed for more than a dozen vehicle code violations beginning in 2017.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
There are a range of free and ticketed events to help people enjoy the spectacle, with venues including a spectacular beachside spot, an observatory and even a pub with its own observatory.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Members of his congregation were often ticketed for parking improperly around the mosque at Friday prayers.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
"We are seeing more and more regular people willing to pay for a special experience at sport," says Richard Flint, chairman of Seat Unique, an online platform specialising in hospitality and VIP ticketing for events.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Sometimes stadiums need updating and the revenue from premium ticketing can help fund a new stadium or new stand, so there are benefits to the everyday fan."
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
“We relied on the page, because it combined marketing, ticketing, and communications with clients and performers. To have that taken away with just a moment’s notice … I can’t even describe it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Josh Zickafoose’s son turns 10 next year, making him an adult in the eyes of Walt Disney World, at least where ticketing is concerned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
He would take my place packing, I was told, and would learn the ticketing machine.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
