half-hour

American  

[haf-ouuhr, -ou-er, hahf-] / ˈhæfˈaʊər, -ˈaʊ ər, ˈhɑf- /

noun

1. a period of 30 minutes.

2. the midpoint between the hours.

   The clock struck on the half-hour.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of a half-hour.

   half-hour programs.

half-hour British  

noun

1. 1. a period of 30 minutes

   2. ( as modifier )

      a half-hour stint on the treadmill

2. 1. the point of time 30 minutes after the beginning of an hour

   2. ( as modifier )

      a half-hour chime

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Other Word Forms

• half-hourly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of half-hour

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half-hour

“There aren’t a lot of people who can carry a half-hour on their own, unscripted,” Sheindlin continued, adding that Levy has what it takes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

He blazed over early on from outside the box then picked up a booking just before the half-hour mark.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

The Renoir Museum lies a half-hour drive from the southern city of Nice, in Renoir's last home before he died aged 78 in 1919.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

At Coffee War, a cafe and museum with a big collection of American surplus jeeps, aircraft and equipment about a half-hour drive from town, owner Damri Sangtang said U.S. sailors would be welcome.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

There was still another half-hour of Prep to go and I couldn’t sit there doing nothing all that time.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl