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

Even halfway into December, Eilish is still reaping the rewards of her big year. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024

There are very few big deals the Yankees make at this time of year that don’t have them halfway to the Canyon of Heroes. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The composite was compiled from a series of images Perseverance captured at roughly the halfway point of its ascent, using its Mastcam-Z cameras high on the rover's mast. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

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

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