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

Fill your ice tray about halfway, and put it in the freezer. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Feb. 2025

If Bowman hadn't chosen from among the three, the default method would have been the electric chair. More about Marion Bowman Bowman grew up in a rural area in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, about halfway between Charleston and Columbia. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Adjective

For centuries, Europeans developed different customs associated with the festival, which is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, according to St. Blase Catholic Church. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025

The occasion marked the halfway point between the winter and spring equinoxes, with clergymen blessing used candles and handing them out to locals every February 2. If the weather was bright and clear during the celebration, people believed the remainder of the season would be long and difficult. —Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025

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