halftime

1 of 2

noun

half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhäf-
: an intermission between halves of a game or contest (as in football or basketball)

half-time

2 of 2

adjective

ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce half-time (audio)
ˈhäf-
: involving or working half the standard hours
half-time adverb

Examples of halftime in a Sentence

Noun The score was tied at halftime. The coaches discussed strategy during halftime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Dicker missed a field goal from under 40 yards for the first time in his career just before halftime, leaving the Chargers trailing 14-3. CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025 The Kings led by as many as 21 points in the second period and carried a 59-44 advantage into the halftime break. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Granted, bringing on your best player and your top goalscorer isn’t exactly the stuff of tactical genius, nor was introducing his first-choice central midfielders — Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson — at half-time. Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025 Some of the proposals included raising the number of credits each year required to be considered a full-time student, eliminating students who attend school less than half-time time and reducing awards by including foreign income when calculating eligibility. Medora Lee, USA Today, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for halftime

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of halftime was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Halftime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halftime. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

halftime

noun
half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhȧf-
: an intermission marking the completion of half of a game (as in football)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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