First recorded in 1875–80
First recorded in 1870–75
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Moussa Diaby cancelled out his fellow debutant's goal within five minutes, though, beautifully controlling a half volley with his weaker foot after Ollie Watkins' flick on.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2023
Debutant Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate, who was hugely impressive throughout, had a half volley parried away by Matt Macey before James Forrest's deflected effort whistled past the far post.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2022
Kruse got married on Thursday but showed no ill effects from the honeymoon in the 16th minute when he met Grischa Prömel’s layoff with a half volley inside the top left corner.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2021
Eventually the ball fell to Williams, who fired a 12-yard half volley inside the far post.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 30, 2021
At four o'clock, when the score stood at two hundred and twenty for no wicket, Barnes, greatly daring, smote lustily at a rather wide half volley and was caught at short slip for thirty-three.
From Mike and Psmith by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
When Heather Knight was hit on the pad by a leg-stump half-volley from Kim Garth, England were 70-4 in the 11th.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Hato's half-volley from just inside the area whistled into the top corner, earning the teenage defender a thumbs-up from Rosenior.
From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026
He hit it on the half-volley and with the ball rising it is really difficult for strikers.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025
The goal came from a half-volley inside the box by Brazilian Alemao to make the score 2-1.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2025
Bruce, temporarily insane, perhaps through nervousness, played back at a half-volley, and was clean bowled.
From A Prefect's Uncle by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
He was replaced by Munir, and the change paid off when the Moroccan forward half-volleyed the winner past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on the stroke of the hour.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2022
A half-volleyed blast by Gary Cahill with nine minutes remaining in the 81st minute was a gem, too, and the score looked poised to serve as the decider.
From New York Times ● Mar. 11, 2015
Bradley opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he half-volleyed a cross from Graham Zusi into the net from the back post.
From Reuters ● Apr. 3, 2014
Italy international Giaccherini - one of the trio of Di Canio summer signings - missed from six yards, but made amends when he half-volleyed Cattermole's cross beyond Robert Olejnik for the opening goal.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2013
The fumbles from half-volleyed shots from Ray Clemence were not key to Capello's thinking - James had not been that impressive himself - but they had clearly contributed.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 18, 2010
Pulisic got there first, half-volleying it an instant before the heavy collision.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 30, 2022
Against Djokovic last week, Federer added a new twist: He kamikaze-rushed second serves, almost half-volleying them on his way to the net, an ambush tactic that gave the Serb fits.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 28, 2015
Stephen Dobbie, signed on loan from Brighton last month, almost opened his Palace account on the half-hour, half-volleying goalkeeper Jason Steele's clearance narrowly wide from 35 yards.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 16, 2013
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
