half

American  

[haf] / hæf /

noun

PLURAL

halves

1. one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole, as an object, or unit of measure or time; a part of a whole equal or almost equal to the remainder.

2. a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½).

3. Sports.  either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them.

4. one of two; a part of a pair.

5. Informal.

   1. half dollar.

   2. the sum of 50 cents.

      Four dimes and two nickels make a half.

6. Baseball.  either of the two units of play into which an inning is divided, the visiting team batting in the first unit and the home team batting in the second.

7. Football.  a halfback.

8. British Informal.

   1. a half-crown coin.

   2. the sum of a half crown; two shillings, sixpence.

   3. a half pint.

      He ordered a half of ale.

---

adjective

1. being one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole.

   a half quart.

2. being half or about half of anything in degree, amount, length, etc..

   at half speed; half sleeve.

3. partial or incomplete.

   half measures.

adverb

1. in or to the extent or measure of half.

2. in part; partly; incompletely.

   half understood.

   Synonyms:

   partially , somewhat , barely

3. to some extent; almost.

   half recovered.

idioms

1. by half,  by very much; by far.

   She was too talented by half for her routine role.

2. not half,

   1. not at all; not really.

      His first attempts at painting are not half bad.

   2. half.

3. half again as much / many,  as much as 50 percent more.

   This mug holds half again as much coffee as the smaller one.

4. not the half of,  a significant yet relatively minor part of something that remains to be described in full: Also not half of, not half.

   He accused them of being responsible for the error, and that's not the half of the story.

5. half in two,  in or into two parts; in half.

   Cut the cake half in two.

6. in half,  divided into halves.

   The vase broke in half.

half ¹ British  

/ hɑːf /

noun

1. 1. either of two equal or corresponding parts that together comprise a whole

   2. a quantity equalling such a part

      half a dozen

2. half a pint, esp of beer

3. a small drink of spirits, esp whisky

4. sport the half of the pitch regarded as belonging to one team

5. golf an equal score on a hole or round with an opponent

6. (in various games) either of two periods of play separated by an interval (the first half and second half )

7. a half-price ticket on a bus, train, etc

8. short for half-hour

9. short for halfpenny

10. sport short for halfback

11. obsolete  a half-year period

12. humorous  a person's wife or husband

13. by an excessive amount or to an excessive degree

    he's too arrogant by half

14. (used with a negative) without being thorough or exhaustive

    we don't do things by halves

15. 1. to share the expenses (of something with one other person)

    2. to share the whole amount (of something with another person)

       to go halves on an orange

---

determiner

1. 1. being a half or approximately a half

      half the kingdom

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      half of them came

adjective

1. not perfect or complete; partial

   he only did a half job on it

adverb

1. to the amount or extent of a half

2. to a great amount or extent

3. partially; to an extent

4. informal  30 minutes after two o'clock

5. to have the intention of

6. informal

   1. not in any way

      he's not half clever enough

   2. really; very; indeed

      he isn't half stupid

   3. certainly; yes, indeed

half- ² British  

prefix

1. one of two equal parts

   half-moon

2. related by one parent only

   half-sister

3. not completely; partly

   half-hardy

---

half More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing half

• at half-mast
• better half
• by half
• glass is half full
• go halfway
• go off (half-cocked)
• halfway
• halves
• in half
• not bad (half bad)
• six of one, half dozen of the other
• time and a half
• with half an eye

---

Grammar

See well ¹.

Etymology

Origin of half

before 900; Middle English; Old English h ( e ) alf; cognate with German Halb, Old Norse halfr, Gothic halbs

Example Sentences

The animated sequel drew in $156 million in the U.S. and $400 million abroad, more than half of it coming from China, according to Box Office Mojo, a website that tracks revenue.

From MarketWatch

The analysis also suggests spending money on new medicines proved half as cost effective as improving existing services.

From The Wall Street Journal

The agreement comes after the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found Starbucks had committed half a million violations of New York City’s Fair Workweek Law since 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most of Huang’s vocal writing, to suit the text, is conversational; half the time he has prepared you to predict what note comes next.

From Los Angeles Times

Leeds lumped it in the second half against Manchester City and it almost got them a point.

From BBC

Related Words

• partly