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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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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
Victor Rosa had a 33-yard touchdown run for Ohio to start the first half. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 The Vikings defense stepped up big time in the second half, limiting Green Bay to just three points. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys — before disbanding for a half-decade in the mid-2010s. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026 Omarzai scored an unbeaten half-century – his second in T20s – and put on 83 runs with Nabi to revive the innings. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
Adverb
In the 50-minute half-inning the Senators walked a major-league record 11 batters as the Yankees went on to a 20-5 win. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The outdoor cinema is wrapped by a rough-hewn Brutalist perimeter—half-lined with concrete cubes, the other half enclosed with planks salvaged from the boardwalk destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 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
  • Michael Busch’s one-out walk brought the tying run to the plate in Alex Bregman, who barreled a ball to the deepest part of the park for a 383-foot flyout.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Toney dominates early Toney is part of the reason for Mensah’s excellent start to the season.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of part
Noun
  • Fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri, who took his maiden five-wicket haul in the first match, was rested and Zimbabwe brought in Ernest Masuku, also for the first time in the series.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • There are plenty of options for bettors to choose from on Sunday, but this Dolphins-49ers match could be a very entertaining game.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of match
Adjective
  • Instead, the fumble was ruled an incomplete pass, Clemson won 29-23 and the Buckeyes watched as Clemson got blown out 42-25 by LSU.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One of the still incomplete recommendations made by the Office of Violence Prevention was to increase legal aid.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adverb
  • Over the coming weeks, Venus' crescent will grow ever thinner while its apparent size grows larger as the planet moves closer to Earth.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Four days before they’re set to play the first-ever concert by their new band, Dhani Harrison and Nigel Godrich sit down to enjoy a post-rehearsal libation in the parking lot of a North Hollywood practice space.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of ever
Adverb
  • Music from generations before them and music released halfway around the world yesterday.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Pegula went into the net, and Sabalenka was halfway to the final.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of halfway
Noun
  • Sandra Lim, The Curious Thing While there is an undercurrent of a breakup throughout this collection, particularly in the third section, what drives this book is a reorientation of the self in the world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Though China remains by far the biggest investor in African mining, countries across the continent are looking to reduce their reliance on Beijing while expanding their control over more valuable sections of the supply chain.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of section
Noun
  • She is considered the Canadian equivalent to the Down Under disco queen Kylie Minogue by some, and recalls a young Taylor Swift for her unabashed earnestness.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • That remains true in the 21st century, but today major militaries are looking for robotic platforms to replace their equine equivalents.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Adjective
  • Rooms on lower floors have at least partial views of the city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Previous efforts to broker even a partial ceasefire have repeatedly fallen apart within hours, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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