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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

half

2 of 3

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in halfway
in some measure or degree what you said is only half true

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Rams safety Quentin Lake intercepts a pass in the first half. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 Taaffe and JuJu Brents, who had both played generally well for six games, each was beaten on TD passes in the second half, when Maye went 9 for 10 for 148 yards. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 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
Even the mountains, despite winds Friday gusting above 30 mph, won’t be half bad. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The deer came at a dead run, stopping once and half turning as if looking for something, then coming again. — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 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
  • Spending spree The grimiest part of the whole race, said Roseann Kennedy in Estadão (São Paulo), was the vast spending spree Lula went on after losing the first round.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The hotel is part lodging, part social club, and 100 percent focused on catering to a certain type of hard-charging, outdoor enthusiast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of part
Noun
  • Daniel Gazdag scored in the 53rd minute for New England, which failed to extend its four-match winning streak and lost for the first time this season after being ahead or tied in the 75th minute.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Although Sunday’s match was a home game for Angel City (15-8-7), it wasn’t played at home.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of match
Adjective
  • Product details can be incomplete or out of date, especially when inventory and promos are turning over by the hour.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In many ways, the Kar-Jenners have been victims of it, too—which just makes Van Meter’s account feel even more incomplete.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adverb
  • Hays was elected Southern Baptist Convention president, one of the few laymen to ever hold the position, in 1957 and 1958.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The industry and consumer behavior continue to evolve at a fast pace, and these two businesses have more cross-over and interconnections than ever.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of ever
Adverb
  • While the damage was minor, this was all caused by the magnetar SGR 1806-20, which is 50,000 light-years away, halfway across our galaxy.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Chang Chun, a Taiwanese petrochemical firm, now manufactures electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide in Casa Grande, a city of some 70,000 people halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.
    — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of halfway
Noun
  • Though this section feels lighter, the music remains dense, one swarming mass of sound traveling toward ecstasy.
    — Vanessa Ague, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Staff was also critical of the quality of materials on a section of the tower.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of section
Noun
  • This elegant purple is the equivalent of buying a classic Max Mara trench in mulberry instead of tan—streamlined and simple, but with a wink.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The company held almost $132 billion in cash, equivalents and short-term investments at the end of June.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Adjective
  • That election gave him a partial senate term representing much of North and West Tarrant County.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The embassy said in a statement Monday that partial curfews had been introduced in several French cities, with additional restrictions possible.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of partial

Phrases Containing half

Browse Nearby Words

hales
half
half-and-half
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of candidate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All