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
Kane fired wide on the half volley soon after before he made a costly error to allow the away side to double its advantage in the 73rd.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 1, 2023
His in-swinging cross from the left was perfectly flighted and met by McCann at the back post but, from just a few yards out, his half volley went wide of the far post.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2022
Eventually the ball fell to Williams, who fired a 12-yard half volley inside the far post.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 30, 2021
Having had a full pitch hit for six and a half volley for four, there was a strong probability that Mr. Downing would pitch his next ball short.
From Mike and Psmith by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
Liverpool trailed Arsenal 1-0 in the Cardiff sunshine when Owen levelled with a smartly taken half-volley in the 83rd minute.
From BBC ● May 15, 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
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he slammed home a half-volley, drilling the ball from the edge of the box through the legs of Gibbs-White.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 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
He bowled me a half-volley on the off the first ball I had in a school match.
From Mike by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
The striker duly picked the ball out of the sky, gave himself room and half-volleyed the ball past Gordon - courtesy of a deflection off Rowles.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2022
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
As Brown collected an Anthony Stokes pass, 18 yards from the Hibs goal, few would have banked on the superb, half-volleyed finish which followed.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 25, 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.
