open house
noun
1
: ready and usually informal hospitality or entertainment for all comers
2
: a house or apartment open for inspection especially by prospective buyers or tenants
Examples of open house in a Sentence
Westside High School will host an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. today, and all parents are invited to attend.
colleges holding open houses for prospective students
We held an open house last week in the hopes that someone would offer to buy our house.
They kept open house, and in the evenings neighbors would stop by to talk or play music.
They always kept an open house for visitors.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cincinnati Public Schools hosted an open house hiring event for educators impacted by the Mount Healthy layoffs earlier in March.
—
The Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2024
The event is designed as a come-and-go open house, the release states.
—Mike Jones, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2024
With a constant wave of customers coming and going, Belton says the atmosphere at the restaurant feels like an open house, or a family reunion.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
With interior renovations still underway, the studio’s official debut and open house is scheduled for April 20, Nicks said.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2024
Someone invited them to an open house for a three-story apartment.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024
The process of locking down the final plan begins Wednesday, when two open houses are held for the draft concept to obtain public response.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024
Unlike the exclusive black-tie galas of yore, this affair was billed as an open house, with no entry restrictions.
—George Allen, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2023
There is no staging, no open houses, and none of the disruptions when listing through a typical real estate agent.
—Kc Property Group, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024
The Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2024
The event is designed as a come-and-go open house, the release states.
—Mike Jones, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2024
With a constant wave of customers coming and going, Belton says the atmosphere at the restaurant feels like an open house, or a family reunion.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
With interior renovations still underway, the studio’s official debut and open house is scheduled for April 20, Nicks said.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2024
Someone invited them to an open house for a three-story apartment.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024
The process of locking down the final plan begins Wednesday, when two open houses are held for the draft concept to obtain public response.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024
Unlike the exclusive black-tie galas of yore, this affair was billed as an open house, with no entry restrictions.
—George Allen, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2023
There is no staging, no open houses, and none of the disruptions when listing through a typical real estate agent.
—Kc Property Group, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open house.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of open house was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near open house
Cite this Entry
“Open house.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20house. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
open house
noun
: usually informal hospitality or entertainment for all comers
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