half

1 of 3

noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhäf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhävz

1

a

: either of two equal parts that compose something

also : a part approximately equal to one of these

half the distance

the larger half of the fortune

b

: half an hour

—used in designation of time

half past two

2

: one of a pair: such as

a

: partner

b

: semester, term

c

: either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (such as football)

also : the midpoint in playing time

the score was tied at the half

3

: half-dollar

4

: halfback

half

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: being one of two equal parts

a half share

a half sheet of paper

b(1)

: that is approximately equal to either of two equal parts that compose something : amounting to approximately half

a half mile

a half million

(2)

: falling short of the full or complete thing : partial

half measures

a half smile

2

: extending over one of two equal parts of something : covering only half

a half window

a half mask

halfness noun

half

3 of 3

adverb

1

a

: in an equal part or degree

the crowd was half jeering, half respectful

b

: not completely : partially

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

her singing isn't half bad

Phrases

by half

: by a great deal

too clever by half

by halves

: in part : half-heartedly

She never does things by halves.

half again as

: one-and-a-half times as

half again as many

in half

: into two equal or nearly equal parts

cut the apple in half

Synonyms

Noun

• moiety

Adjective

• deficient
• fragmental
• fragmentary
• halfway
• incomplete
• partial

Adverb

• anywise
• at all
• ever

Examples of half in a Sentence

Noun

She broke each cookie into halves.

“Which half do you want?” “I'll take the smaller half.”

Two halves make a whole.

The team fell behind in the first half but rallied in the second half to win the game.

“What's yours?” “A half of lager, please.”

Adjective

a half cup of coffee

He owns a half share in the company.

a half pound of cheese

She looked at him with a shy half smile.

Adverb

The glass of water is half full.

The crowd was half cheering and half jeering.

The train departed at half past the hour.

He was only half aware of what was happening.

She had half persuaded me to stay.

The door was half open.

These eggs are only half cooked.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On most days, about 2,000 people pass through, about half of whom spend the night. —Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

In Anchorage, streets split in half and an entire neighborhood slid into the sea. —Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

This red little retro gadget isn't just pulling our nostalgia strings and taking design cues from the second half of the 1900s—Rabbit is also making a bold claim that its R1 deserves a spot in this tech hall of fame. —Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024

Slightly more than half of that is embedded in the skull. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Over the second half, AD racked up as many fouls (three) as buckets (three). —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024

Using a chef’s knife, slice it in half lengthwise, then use a large spoon to scoop out the creamy flesh. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2024

Historians estimate Black drovers, trainers, breeders, and herders—who were collectively referred to as cowboys—made up as much as a quarter of working ranch hands during the heyday of open-range ranching in the second half of the 19th century. —TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

In the spirits category, more than half of the bidders were from Asia, with Hong Kong ($6 million) and Singapore ($5 million) leading the way. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Now, just a half mile from the span, the vessel has gone dark – no power, no steering, no propulsion. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

How ought one truss the chicken half of a half-chicken, half-snake basilisk? —Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

This president entered office with the ignominious distinction of having been outspokenly wrong on just about every consequential matter relating to foreign affairs over the last half century, as NR chronicled. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Mar. 2024

The black ribbon that Selena Gomez chose to facilitate her half updo has become the favorite hair accessory of the most fashion savvy. —Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2024

On top of that, the moon will be at approximately half illumination, meaning stargazers will have a more challenging time viewing the shooting stars, though the bright fireballs can cut through light pollution, Live Science reports. —USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

Cut biscuits in half, top with a slice of ham and slather with mustard, chutney or hot pepper jelly. —Andrea Weigl, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Located near the Shops at Sunset Place, this running store also features half and full marathon training, and a couch-to-5k style Fitness 101 program for newbies. —Priscilla Blossom, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

In their joint statement released Tuesday, the parties confirmed Combs will no longer be a half owner of the DeLéon brand. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2024

Adverb

Israel said 419 trucks — the highest since the conflict began — entered on Monday, though the Red Crescent and United Nations gave much lower figures, with the U.N. saying many were only half full because of Israeli inspection rules. —NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

But a forecast for the hour of maximum eclipse, between 3 and 4 p.m. indicated that the sky would be almost half covered by cloud. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Roll dough into a rectangle, and fold dough in half so short ends meet. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

On to the women, whose Final Four is half set: No. 1 South Carolina and No. 3 North Carolina State both got in by winning Sunday and will face each other in one semifinal, the top seed the big favorite and a power that won national titles in 2017 and ‘22. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

But over the next few days, Sauer’s eyes started fluttering, half open. —Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Indeed, the rest of us can only aspire to be half as zealous, shrewd, and gracious as the eternal feminist icon is at 90. —Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024

Detectives were able to identify Young through a distinctive backpack, which appeared to be a bear that is half green and half yellow with other colors. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2024

Her eyes were half open, lips parted, hands in her lap and upturned. —Zach Williams, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English healf; akin to Old High German halb half

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing half

• and a half
• at half strength
• better half
• by half
• go half and half
• go off at half cock
• go off half-cocked
• half a brain
• half a chance
• half a dozen
• half again as
• half again as much/many as
• half a minute/second
• half-and-half
• half an hour
• half as big/much/good as
• half asleep
• half as much/many again as
• half-ass
• half-assed
• half-baked
• half bath
• half blood
• half-blooded
• half board
• half boot
• half-bound
• half-bred
• half-breed
• half brother
• half-caste
• half cock
• half-cocked
• half-court
• half crown
• half dead
• half dime
• half disme
• half-dollar
• half dozen
• half duplex
• half eagle
• half-glasses
• half-hardy
• half-hearted
• half hitch
• half hour
• half-knot
• half-length
• half-life
• half-light
• half line
• half-marathon
• half-mast
• half-moon
• half naked
• half nelson
• half note
• half off
• half past
• half-pint
• half-pipe
• half plane
• half price
• half rest
• half shell
• half sister
• half-slip
• half sole
• half someone's age
• half sovereign
• half-space
• half-staff
• half step
• half the battle
• half the story
• half the time
• half-timber
• half-timbered
• half-time
• half title
• half-track
• half-tracked
• half-truth
• half volley
• half-wit
• half-world
• have half a mind
• have/keep half an eye on
• how the other half lives
• in half
• it's six of one and half a dozen of the other
• it's six of one, half (a) dozen of the other
• listen with only half an ear
• not half
• not half bad
• on the half hour
• on the half shell
• other half
• shelter half
• the half
• the half of it
• time and a half
• too clever by half

Kids Definition

half

1 of 3 noun

ˈhaf 

ˈhȧf

plural halves ˈhavz 

ˈhȧvz

1

: one of two equal or nearly equal parts that make up something

half of an apple

2

: half an hour

half past ten

3

: one of a pair

especially : one of the two equal periods that make up the playing time of some games (as football)

half

2 of 3 adjective

1

: being one of two halves

a half sheet of paper

a half mile away

2

: of half the usual size or extent

a half smile

half

3 of 3 adverb

1

a

: to the extent of half

half full

b

: to some degree : not completely

half persuaded

2

: by any means : at all

the song wasn't half bad