half 1 of 3

noun

ˈhaf How to pronounce half (audio)
Definition of halfnext
1
as in part
one of two equal or nearly equal parts to be fair, we should each get half the pie

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in match
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities it's the bottom half of the ninth inning, and the Yankees are up at bat

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half

2 of 3

adjective

as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part half measures that did nothing but prolong the problem

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

half

3 of 3

adverb

1
as in ever
in any way or respect this cut on your arm isn't half as bad as it looks

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2
as in halfway
in some measure or degree what you said is only half true

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of half
Noun
The Giants’ inability to score in the top half of the inning paved the way for the Mariners to win in the bottom half on Rodríguez’s walk-off sacrifice fly. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 July 2026 Gros Morne National Park combines relatively dark skies with the deepest eclipse in eastern North America, with nearly half of the sun obscured at maximum. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2026
Adjective
The sequences cap off a half-decade romantic journey and offer a counter to some of Heartstopper’s detractors. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026 The shoes come in a range of fun color combinations and sizes 5–16, including half sizes and wide widths. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Adverb
Somehow, your prized tree still ends up half-dead after a few months. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026 Picture trying to evaluate that same restaurant recommendation from your friend while responding to your boss’s texts, half-listening to a podcast and keeping an eye on a pot of pasta on the stove, all at the end of a long week. — Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for half
Recent Examples of Synonyms for half
  1. part
  2. match
  3. incomplete
  4. ever
  5. halfway
  6. section
  7. equivalent
  8. partial
Noun
  • This metric measures the quality of each chance as a player shoots, accounting for many contextual factors, including the angle and distance of the shot, and the body part used for the effort.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Many have spent years building the company and are entitled to realize part of that value.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of part
Noun
  • He was also sent off for a headbutt against an opponent who provoked him in his last ever match, which happened to be the 2006 World Cup final; his human reaction laid bare on the highest stage of all.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The SummerSlam card, featuring major title matches, appears largely set.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of match
Adjective
  • Dmitri published his father’s incomplete novel, The Original of Laura, in 2009, going against his father’s wishes.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Second, a burger without fries is incomplete, and the quality of fries matters.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adverb
  • The event had been on the schedule earlier this week but then disappeared by Friday morning, with FIFA then saying no event had ever been planned.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • The company made history for the first time four years later with its Vikram-S suborbital rocket, becoming the first private Indian outfit ever to reach space.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of ever
Adverb
  • The house sauce is a ketchup, mayo and whole grain mustard combination, halfway between fry sauce and Thousand Island.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The upper stage, sometimes referred to simply as 'Ship, then used its own six Raptor engines to fly halfway around the world before landing and exploding as expected in the Indian Ocean.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Definition of halfway
Noun
  • Alberto Briseno, a section chief for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, wrote in a declaration that ICE personnel deleted the file after it was discovered and it was not used for law enforcement purposes.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 17 July 2026
  • There was disappointment among sections of the fanbase that Neave was not given more of an opportunity over the run-in, especially given how Woltemade and Wissa struggled.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of section
Noun
  • See the hundreds of billions worth of cash equivalents sitting on Berkshire Hathaway’s balance sheet then, and now.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The exhibitor generated $190 million in free cash flow and ended the quarter with $778 million of cash and cash equivalents.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 July 2026
Definition of equivalent
Adjective
  • After all, the Strait of Hormuz is now in its sixth month of total or partial closure.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Hugh Town The Isles of Scilly combine Britain's deepest partial eclipse with some of southern England's darkest skies.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of partial

Phrases Containing half

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hales
half
half-and-half
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Cite this Entry

“Half.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of half for Spanish Speakers

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