half step
noun
half step
Americannoun
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Music. semitone.
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Military. a step 15 inches (38 centimeters) long in quick time and 18 inches (46 centimeters) long in double time.
half-step
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of half step
First recorded in 1900–05
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How does half-step compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I’m a half step away from calling the animal communicator.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2024
This is a half step where a whole step is needed.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2023
The ground tore up his bare feet, making “every little half step hurt.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 12, 2022
He said: “If Australia takes this big step, then Japan could take a half step, and Taiwan takes a half step, and then India and then maybe Vietnam.”
From New York Times ● Sep. 21, 2021
You can also name and write the F natural as "E sharp"; F natural is the note that is a half step higher than E natural, which is the definition of E sharp.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, stood a half-step behind, mimicking his client’s scowl.
From New York Times ● May 30, 2024
He’s lost a half-step, which explains how Galaxy defensive midfielder Edwin Cerrillo was able to keep him in check for the most of the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2024
Then, a half-step backward against the Minnesota Wild.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 11, 2023
Palestinian analyst Talal Okal said the diplomatic appointment was a half-step toward an official Saudi representation office in the occupied West Bank.
From Reuters ● Aug. 12, 2023
An interval that is a half-step smaller than a perfect or a minor interval is called diminished.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
