foyer

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An open area just inside the entrance of a building, such as a house, hotel or theater.

   Grammar: Countable: the hotel has a grand foyer.

   Patterns

   • in the foyer
   • the foyer of something

   We waited in the hotel foyer until the taxi arrived.

   Coats are left in the foyer of the house.

   The theater foyer was crowded before the show.

2. 2nouncountableBritish

   A public space in a theater or concert hall where the audience gathers before a show and during the break.

   Grammar: Often used in British English as a place to buy refreshments.

   Patterns

   • meet in the foyer

   Let's meet in the foyer at seven.

   Drinks were served in the foyer during the interval.

   A small exhibit of costumes filled the foyer.

Word forms

Common combinations

hotel foyer

The hotel foyer had marble floors.

theater foyer

The theater foyer was full of people at the interval.

spacious foyer

A spacious foyer welcomed visitors.

in the foyer

I'll wait in the foyer.

grand foyer

The mansion had a grand foyer.

Synonyms and how they differ

lobby

Lobby is common for hotels and offices, while foyer is more usual for homes and theaters.

entrance hall

Entrance hall is the plain British phrase for the space just inside a front door.

vestibule

Vestibule is formal and suggests a small area between the outer door and the main interior.

hallway

Hallway is any corridor, not necessarily at the entrance.

Word family

foyers noun

plural form

fireplace noun

the older French sense of foyer is hearth, but this is a separate English word

lobby noun

close synonym

Commonly confused: foyer or foray? foyer or foyer vs. lobby?

Practice

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