noun
shoebox
Shoebox (noun) means the cardboard box a pair of shoes is sold in. Example: “She kept old photos in a shoebox under the bed.”
noun
1
The cardboard box a pair of shoes is sold in.
"In one shoebox he had a whole collection of seeds he had saved from last year."
"She kept old photos in a shoebox under the bed."
2
A very small, cramped living space.
"Their first flat in the city was a total shoebox."
"She wondered how come Ho had a garden when everyone she knew lived in shoeboxes."
— Mick Herron, Slow Horses (2010)
How to use shoebox
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally the box shoes come in, or figuratively any tiny room or apartment.
When to use it
"Shoebox" for a flat is informal and slightly complaining in tone.
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Word forms
- Plural
- shoeboxes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She kept old photos in a _____ under the bed.
Etymology
From shoe + box.
Rhymes for shoebox
See all rhymes for shoebox →Frequently asked questions
What does “shoebox” mean?
The word “shoebox” means the cardboard box a pair of shoes is sold in. In plain terms, literally the box shoes come in, or figuratively any tiny room or apartment.
How do you use “shoebox” in a sentence?
Here is “shoebox” used in a sentence: “She kept old photos in a shoebox under the bed.”
What part of speech is “shoebox”?
“Shoebox” is a noun.
How many meanings does “shoebox” have?
“Shoebox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the cardboard box a pair of shoes is sold in.
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