half hour

noun

1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly 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
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.
About a half hour from Sacramento, the 5-acre property includes a guesthouse, a collector’s garage, a pond, patios, and gardens. The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026 That’s 17 performances in just two and a half hours, or about 30-45 minutes less than pretty much any other music awards show. Chris Willman, Variety, 17 May 2026 In total, the trio of records amount to 43 new songs and about two and a half hours of new music from the rapper. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 May 2026 All told, Drake delivered 43 new tracks (or nearly two-and-a-half hours of music) to sift through; among them are some of his best songs since Scorpion. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for half hour

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of half hour was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Half hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20hour. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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
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