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

Nevertheless, seeing Barkov fall to the ice only conjured memories of last year’s training camp, when the top-line center crumbled down following a noncontract drill just a half hour into his first on-ice session. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was scheduled to land in Dublin about two-and-a-half hours later. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

And kicking off a half hour earlier, 250 miles south, UConn will take on Southern Miss in the Hattiesburg heat for its first road game under coach Jason Candle. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026

Hundreds crowded around the Adidas store as the KU pep band and cheerleaders performed for about a half hour. — Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 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