half

1 of 3

noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhäf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhävz

1

a

: either of two equal parts that compose something

also : a part approximately equal to one of these

half the distance

the larger half of the fortune

b

: half an hour

—used in designation of time

half past two

2

: one of a pair: such as

a

: partner

b

: semester, term

c

: either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (such as football)

also : the midpoint in playing time

the score was tied at the half

3

: half-dollar

4

: halfback

see also:

by half half the battle by halves half again as in half

half

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: being one of two equal parts

a half share

a half sheet of paper

b(1)

: that is approximately equal to either of two equal parts that compose something : amounting to approximately half

a half mile

a half million

(2)

: falling short of the full or complete thing : partial

half measures

a half smile

2

: extending over one of two equal parts of something : covering only half

a half window

a half mask

halfness noun

half

3 of 3

adverb

1

a

: in an equal part or degree

the crowd was half jeering, half respectful

b

: not completely : partially

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

her singing isn't half bad

Synonyms of half

Noun

• part
• section
• moiety
• portion

Adjective

• incomplete
• partial
• deficient

Adverb

• ever
• at all

Examples of half in a Sentence

Noun

She broke each cookie into halves.

“Which half do you want?” “I'll take the smaller half.”

Two halves make a whole.

The team fell behind in the first half but rallied in the second half to win the game.

“What's yours?” “A half of lager, please.”

Adjective

a half cup of coffee

He owns a half share in the company.

a half pound of cheese

She looked at him with a shy half smile.

Adverb

The glass of water is half full.

The crowd was half cheering and half jeering.

The train departed at half past the hour.

He was only half aware of what was happening.

She had half persuaded me to stay.

The door was half open.

These eggs are only half cooked.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Under Option 3, white residents would make up roughly half of both the West and Central zones' populations. — Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026

The airline expects domestic and international unit revenue to rise 8% to 10% in the first half of fiscal 2027, even as fuel costs are expected to increase. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The Fever sit in fifth place – a half-game behind the Atlanta Dream, two games behind the Golden State Valkyries for second place and six games behind the Minnesota Lynx for first place. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

The only thing even somewhat surprising about the two right-handers going back and forth, trading dominant half-innings Tuesday, was that Skenes has not been the same Skenes much of this season. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Other findings of the report show that 94% of organizations are worried about the economy, 79% cite rising cybersecurity threats, and just half feel confident managing data-security risk as AI becomes embedded in benefits administration. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

The Washington Post reported in June that the entire project was estimated to cost $600 million, with more than half coming from taxpayers, per a contractor’s project estimate. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English healf; akin to Old High German halb half

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing half

• and a half
• at half strength
• better half
• by half
• go half and half
• go off at half cock
• go off half-cocked
• half a brain
• half a chance
• half a dozen
• half again as
• half again as much/many as
• half a minute/second
• half-and-half
• half an hour
• half as big/much/good as
• half asleep
• half as much/many again as
• half-baked
• half bath
• half-blood
• half-blooded
• half board
• half boot
• half-bound
• half-bred
• half brother
• half cock
• half-cocked
• half-court
• half crown
• half dead
• half dime
• half disme
• half-dollar
• half dozen
• half duplex
• half eagle
• half-glasses
• half-hardy
• half-hearted
• half hitch
• half hour
• half-knot
• half-length
• half-life
• half-light
• half line
• half-marathon
• half-mast
• half-moon
• half naked
• half nelson
• half note
• half off
• half past
• half-pint
• half-pipe
• half plane
• half-price
• half rest
• half shell
• half sister
• half-slip
• half-sole
• half someone's age
• half sovereign
• half-space
• half-staff
• half step
• half the battle
• half the story
• half the time
• half-timber
• half-timbered
• half-time
• half title
• half-track
• half-tracked
• half-truth
• half volley
• half-wit
• half-world
• half zip
• have half a mind
• have/keep half an eye on
• how the other half lives
• in half
• it's six of one and half a dozen of the other
• it's six of one, half (a) dozen of the other
• listen with only half an ear
• not half
• not half bad
• on the half hour
• on the half shell
• other half
• shelter half
• the half
• the half of it
• time and a half
• too clever by half

Rhymes for half

• calf
• chaff
• gaff
• graf
• graff
• graph
• haff
• laugh
• raff
• staff
• staph
• autograph

Kids Definition

half

1 of 3 noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhȧf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhȧvz

1

: one of two equal or nearly equal parts that make up something

half of an apple

2

: half an hour

half past ten

3

: one of a pair

especially : one of the two equal periods that make up the playing time of some games (as football)

half

2 of 3 adjective

1

: being one of two halves

a half sheet of paper

a half mile away

2

: of half the usual size or extent

a half smile

half

3 of 3 adverb

1

a

: to the extent of half

half full

b

: to some degree : not completely

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

the song wasn't half bad