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

Organizers recommend arriving a half hour before a scheduled appointment. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025

Orange City is located about a half hour north of Orlando. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025

The Lift Bridge is now staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight each day, and the bridge will lift every half hour if boat traffic is present. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for half hour

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• our
• power
• scour
• shower
• sour

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