half hour

noun

1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly 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
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.
Tanner logged 43 days, including 46 and a half hours on EVAs. Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2026 One of those moments negatively speaking, is [SPOILER ALERT] in the first half hour before things get boiling. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 May 2026 Emergency crews from a neighboring town worked on Stanley Sears for a half hour but couldn't revive him for the long drive to the closest hospital, records show. Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 May 2026 Ana Mandara is conveniently located, thanks to a 15-minute complimentary transfer to/from Cam Ranh International Airport, while Nha Trang’s seafood restaurants and bustling markets are a half hour away via the resort’s free shuttle. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for half hour

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of half hour was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20hour. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

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
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