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
Her portfolio ranges across mediums: theater, fashion shows, concerts, Super Bowl halftime shows, installations and museum exhibitions. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 1 July 2025 Cohen later dropped out of the race, making his announcement during the halftime of the Super Bowl. Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
Haaland came on at half-time and Nicolo Savona stayed deeper defending him. Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025 Redid the track to give it a little bit of an R&B, hip-hop thing for the second verse, just changed it to half-time and little things like 808s. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 23 June 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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Halftime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halftime. Accessed 12 Jul. 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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