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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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
With their best player out for the game, the Miami offense had a hard time getting big plays or sustaining drives, particularly in the first half. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026 After holding the Jayhawks to just 14 yards of offense in the first half, the Knights were ravaged in the second half, allowing nearly 400 yards. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Adjective
The kitchen even uses an old-school mold to press rice into a pleasing half-football shape. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026 More than a half-century and well over 10,000 NFL games had passed since a team last won without completing a pass. — Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
Adverb
For California, the change is mainly aimed at drawing big-budget TV shows back to the state, where production in the category is roughly half below historical norms. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026 The election of the first Democratic Asian American woman as governor could happen in Vermont with Amanda Janoo, who is half Malaysian, or Oklahoma with Cyndi Munson, a former state lawmaker of Korean descent. — Terry Tang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 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
  • Chicago builds quantum hub The arrival of System Two is part of a broader effort to position Illinois as a center for quantum technology and microelectronics.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Chazi Rutz, a professional skydiver from Arizona, told The Times that the two skydivers were part of a group training to set a California record for largest formation in the upright orientation performed by women.
    — Iris Kwok Follow Nov. 6, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of part
Noun
  • Seattle grabbed the lead 51 seconds into the match when Rusnák took a pass from Cristian Roldan and scored the Sounders earliest goal this season.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Seattle grabbed the lead 51 seconds into the match when Rusnak took a pass from Cristian Roldan and scored the Sounders’ earliest goal this season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of match
Adjective
  • Rachel Weatherington, who challenged political newcomer Geramie Parrish in the Place 4 race, was ahead with 70% of the vote with Parrish garnering 30%, according to unofficial, incomplete results from Tarrant County.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Going up the chain, uncomfortable findings and early warning signs get discarded; what often arrives is a clean, but incomplete, summary.
    — Kai-Fu Lee, Time, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adverb
  • The Fort Worth and Fort Collins shows—the former the only 1976 show ever officially pressed to vinyl, the latter released to streaming services without notice a week before the box’s arrival—are instant classics of Dylan’s entire live oeuvre.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • SpaceX plans to retire both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy shortly after the fully reusable Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, is up and running.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of ever
Adverb
  • Cava has reached 500 restaurants ahead of schedule, putting it halfway toward its goal of at least 1,000 locations by 2032.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Shear catmint back halfway after flowering to keep it neat and spur more blooms.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of halfway
Noun
  • Testing a critical component The Mk21A serves as the front-end payload section of the Sentinel ICBM.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • When the rhythm section drops away, her voice hangs among flute, synthesiser, and reverberation; when the rhythm returns, the bass feels newly physical.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of section
Noun
  • Dakar winner Brock Heger quickly showed us all how to do it, perfectly executing the side-by-side equivalent of a skateboard tailslide along the wall’s highest point.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 2 Nov. 2026
  • An aroma has no straightforward equivalent to a photograph or audio file.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Adjective
  • Identifying red blood cells in dinosaurs The fossil is a partial hind limb of Aratasaurus museunacionali, a theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
  • With more cars equipped with partial automation hitting the road, safety researchers are growing increasingly worried about driver attention and the potential for these systems to cause crashes.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 2 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 2026.

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