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

Going to New York is an even bigger difference, $660 on Delta out of MKE, versus $399 on United at O’Hare, where direct flights to LaGuardia Airport leave practically every half hour during prime time. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Laredo, Texas, is two-and-a-half hours south of San Antonio and sits along the Texas-Mexico Border. —Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 11 May 2026

The work was produced outside Ravenna, about two and a half hours from Venice. —Pablo Larios, Artforum, 6 May 2026

On the flight, Michelle sobbed uncontrollably for a half hour. —Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

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