roomful
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈuːmfəl/
US
- /ˈrumˌfʊl/
Description
- as much as a room can hold
- a room packed with people or things
- a full room
- a large group in one room
- houseful
A "roomful" means the number or amount of people or things that fills a room. Imagine opening the door to a birthday party and seeing children, balloons, and gifts everywhere. You could say the room is full, or that there is a *roomful* of children and decorations inside. The word usually points to a large group or a lot of things in one space, not just one or two. It often gives the scene a lively, crowded feeling.
The word "roomful" refers to the number or amount of people or things that would fill a room. It is a noun, and it usually helps the reader picture a space that is crowded or completely occupied. The word is formed from "room" and "full," and that basic idea stays close to its meaning: enough people or things to make a room feel full.
You might say, "A roomful of reporters waited for the mayor," to show that many reporters were gathered in one place. You could also say, "The children walked into a roomful of toys," to suggest the room seemed packed with them. It is usually used with "of" plus a plural noun, especially for people or countable things. It is less common with abstract ideas, because the word normally points to things you can imagine physically filling a room.
"Roomful" is common in everyday English and in narrative writing because it quickly creates a clear picture. It does more than say "many" or "a lot" because it ties that large number to a single room and lets you imagine the scene. Sometimes the feeling is noisy and chaotic, and sometimes it is simply full and busy. In each case, the word suggests a room occupied by a large number of people or things.
Examples
- 1
Group of people
A roomful of children went quiet when the magician opened the box.
Pattern
a roomful of + people/things
enough people or things to fill a room
- 2
New workplace
She had to introduce herself to a roomful of strangers on her first day.
- 3
Plural noun
The museum keeps two roomfuls of old maps in the back of the building.
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- roomfulnoun
Forms
- roomfulspluralnoun
- roomsfulpluralnoun