halftime

1 of 2

noun

half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhäf-
: an intermission between halves of a game or contest (as in football or basketball)

half-time

2 of 2

adjective

ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce half-time (audio)
ˈhäf-
: involving or working half the standard hours
half-time adverb

Examples of halftime in a Sentence

Noun The score was tied at halftime. The coaches discussed strategy during halftime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The halftime extravaganza is being produced by Global Citizen and curated by a longtime advisor for that advocacy group, Coidplay’s Chris Martin. Chris Willman, Variety, 9 June 2025 The lineup reveal comes a couple of months after it was first announced that Martin would be spearheading the Super Bowl halftime show-esque concert, building on his history as the Global Citizen Festival’s international curator. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Adjective
Villa were 5-2 down on aggregate at half-time and so very nearly came back to produce one of the most utterly thrilling back-from-the-brink wins in Champions League history. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 May 2025 Other options include at least half-time enrollment in an educational program or a combination of the available options. Joseph Choi, The Hill, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for halftime

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of halftime was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Halftime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halftime. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

halftime

noun
half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhȧf-
: an intermission marking the completion of half of a game (as in football)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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