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

Thaw and drain frozen chopped collard greens and fold them into a creamy cheese mixture and bake until bubbly, about a half hour at 375 degrees. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

This is one of the best half hours of TV next to the Brendan Fraser episode. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026

Theater box offices open one hour before the first screening of the day begins and close a half hour after the final screening. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026

The professor would talk about Apocalypse Now or The Godfather for a half hour, show the film, and discuss it afterward. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 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