halfway

1 of 2

adverb

half·​way ˈhaf-ˈwā 

ˈhäf-

: midway between two points

At length the cat steps halfway out the door, showing his spotted brown coat and the stripes on his legs.

—Paul Comstock

halfway

2 of 2

adjective

1

: midway between two points

at the halfway point/mark

2

: partial

a halfway solution

Synonyms

Adjective

• deficient
• fragmental
• fragmentary
• half
• incomplete
• partial

Examples of halfway in a Sentence

Adjective

She was leading at the halfway mark of the race.

We're halfway toward completing the project.

They're only offering halfway measures, not a real solution.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Mexico Could Try To Strike A Better Immigration Bargain For Its Citizens The Mexican government cooperated with the Biden administration, in part because U.S. government officials met them halfway. —Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Another key conflict resolution skill is learning to meet halfway. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 25 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Instead, somber faces walked, one by one, Thursday morning toward the oak tree planted along a sidewalk at the halfway mark of the annual Piedmont Turkey Trot. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2024

These boots reach the halfway mark between the height of the classic and mini boots at 5 inches tall, pairing well with everything from comfortable leggings and joggers — the latter being actress Jennifer Lawrence’s pants choice, paired with a white tee and tan bag. —Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English half wey, from half half entry 2 + wey way entry 1

Adjective

derivative of halfway entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing halfway

• halfway around/across the world
• halfway decent
• halfway house
• halfway through
• meet halfway

Kids Definition

halfway

adjective

half·​way -ˈwā 

1

: midway between two points

stop at the halfway mark

2

: partial sense 3

halfway measures

halfway adverb