half

1 of 3

noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhäf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhävz

1

a

: either of two equal parts that compose something

also : a part approximately equal to one of these

half the distance

the larger half of the fortune

b

: half an hour

—used in designation of time

half past two

2

: one of a pair: such as

a

: partner

b

: semester, term

c

: either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (such as football)

also : the midpoint in playing time

the score was tied at the half

3

: half-dollar

4

: halfback

half

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: being one of two equal parts

a half share

a half sheet of paper

b(1)

: that is approximately equal to either of two equal parts that compose something : amounting to approximately half

a half mile

a half million

(2)

: falling short of the full or complete thing : partial

half measures

a half smile

2

: extending over one of two equal parts of something : covering only half

a half window

a half mask

halfness noun

half

3 of 3

adverb

1

a

: in an equal part or degree

the crowd was half jeering, half respectful

b

: not completely : partially

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

her singing isn't half bad

Phrases

by half

: by a great deal

too clever by half

by halves

: in part : half-heartedly

She never does things by halves.

half again as

: one-and-a-half times as

half again as many

in half

: into two equal or nearly equal parts

cut the apple in half

Synonyms

Noun

• moiety

Adjective

• deficient
• fragmental
• fragmentary
• halfway
• incomplete
• partial

Adverb

• anywise
• at all
• ever

Examples of half in a Sentence

Noun

She broke each cookie into halves.

“Which half do you want?” “I'll take the smaller half.”

Two halves make a whole.

The team fell behind in the first half but rallied in the second half to win the game.

“What's yours?” “A half of lager, please.”

Adjective

a half cup of coffee

He owns a half share in the company.

a half pound of cheese

She looked at him with a shy half smile.

Adverb

The glass of water is half full.

The crowd was half cheering and half jeering.

The train departed at half past the hour.

He was only half aware of what was happening.

She had half persuaded me to stay.

The door was half open.

These eggs are only half cooked.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to a report from AAA, a record of more than 119 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles during the second half of December. —Joe Edwards, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

Terry Ree, half of the Williams and Ree comedy and music duo along with Bruce Williams, has died. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Williamson’s narrative helped spur the spectacular growth of stories about white slavery around the world over the ensuing half century, even as the enslavement of Black people expanded in the American South. —Gunther Peck / Made By History, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024

Many people have a significant imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 in their bodies — a November 2015 study found levels of linoleic acid have increased by 136% in the fat tissue of Americans over the past half century. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Adverb

With this fiscal year less than half over, Twitch-originated cash donations alone are about $500,000. —William P. Barrett, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Gefen’s favorite is his 1972 Saab Sonett, a coupe the color of a tangerine and whose motor roars—half ferociously, half pathetically—like a dying lion. —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English healf; akin to Old High German halb half

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing half

• and a half
• at half strength
• better half
• go half and half
• go off at half cock
• go off half-cocked
• half a brain
• half a chance
• half a dozen
• half again as much/many as
• half a minute/second
• half-and-half
• half an hour
• half as big/much/good as
• half asleep
• half as much/many again as
• half-ass
• half-assed
• half-baked
• half bath
• half blood
• half-blooded
• half board
• half boot
• half-bound
• half-bred
• half-breed
• half brother
• half-caste
• half cock
• half-cocked
• half-court
• half crown
• half dead
• half dime
• half disme
• half-dollar
• half dozen
• half duplex
• half eagle
• half-glasses
• half-hardy
• half-hearted
• half hitch
• half hour
• half-knot
• half-length
• half-life
• half-light
• half line
• half-marathon
• half-mast
• half-moon
• half naked
• half nelson
• half note
• half off
• half past
• half-pint
• half-pipe
• half plane
• half price
• half rest
• half shell
• half sister
• half-slip
• half sole
• half someone's age
• half sovereign
• half-space
• half-staff
• half step
• half the battle
• half the story
• half the time
• half-timber
• half-timbered
• half-time
• half title
• half-track
• half-tracked
• half-truth
• half volley
• half-wit
• half-world
• have half a mind
• have/keep half an eye on
• how the other half lives
• it's six of one and half a dozen of the other
• it's six of one, half (a) dozen of the other
• listen with only half an ear
• not half
• not half bad
• on the half hour
• on the half shell
• other half
• shelter half
• the half
• the half of it
• time and a half
• too clever by half

Kids Definition

half

1 of 3 noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhȧf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhȧvz

1

: one of two equal or nearly equal parts that make up something

half of an apple

2

: half an hour

half past ten

3

: one of a pair

especially : one of the two equal periods that make up the playing time of some games (as football)

half

2 of 3 adjective

1

: being one of two halves

a half sheet of paper

a half mile away

2

: of half the usual size or extent

a half smile

half

3 of 3 adverb

1

a

: to the extent of half

half full

b

: to some degree : not completely

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

the song wasn't half bad