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

Poulsen says the half-hour talks have helped him stay engaged.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

An AFP journalist heard two loud explosions in the city within a half-hour period early Saturday and saw smoke billowing from one of them.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Taylor’s great betrayal comes a half-hour into “One Battle After Another,” when she disappears from the movie.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

They hardly blinked at France's comeback, hitting them with a second try of their own just before the half-hour.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Then Gabi and I shift boxes across the room to Dad, and between us we spend the next half-hour emptying the attic.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler