half hour

noun

1

: thirty minutes

2

: the middle point of an hour

half-hourly

ˈhaf-ˈau̇(-ə)r-lē 

ˈhäf-

adverb or adjective

Examples of half hour in a Sentence

Trains depart every half hour.

I waited a half hour in line.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bubbles last for about a half hour, which is a long time, especially considering that most people don’t sit in the bath for longer than that. —Shalwah Evans, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024

This image was shot in Bloomington, Indiana at a farm called Whippoorwill Hill, where the comet emerged about a half hour after sunset, before quickly setting behind the barn pictured here. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024

First, his on-and-off-again girlfriend and a child visited him for about a half hour in the fire station's living and dining area. —Jolene Almendarez, The Courier-Journal, 19 Dec. 2024

Roughly a half hour later, another person, who also was visiting Milwaukee, was approached by the two unnamed juveniles about two blocks from where the first crime occurred. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

half hour

noun

1

: thirty minutes

2

: the middle point of an hour

half-hourly

ˈhaf-ˈau̇(ə)r-lē

ˈhȧf-

adverb or adjective