houseful

[ hous-fool ]

noun

, plural house·fuls.

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.

houseful

/ ˈhaʊsfʊl /

noun

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

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of houseful¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC

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

“And don’t forget, a whole houseful of sisters—I know you wouldn’t want that.”

From Literature

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

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