halfway
Americanadverb
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to half the distance; to midpoint.
The rope reaches only halfway.
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almost; nearly; just about.
He halfway surrendered to their demands.
adjective
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midway, as between two places or points.
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going to or covering only half or part of the full extent.
halfway measures.
idioms
adverb
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at or to half the distance; at or to the middle
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in or of an incomplete manner or nature
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to compromise with
Etymology
Origin of halfway
First recorded in 1350–1400, halfway is from Middle English half wei. See half, way 1
Explanation
When you're halfway, you're at the middle point of something. If you pause to catch your breath halfway up a hill, you still have half the hill left to climb. You can make it halfway along a marathon route, or 13 miles, and you can also make it halfway through your book before you fall asleep. You might only make it halfway through an enormous slice of cake, or halfway through math class before you start to nod off. A halfway house, originally an inn between two cities, but today it's a place where released criminals or recovered addicts can live while they get back on their feet.
Vocabulary lists containing halfway
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.
This era of scrolling alone has, as Putnam halfway predicted, coincided with a rise in asocial extremism.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
Past the halfway mark of the Olympic quadrennial, LA28 has passed its own halfway point for ticket sales.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Smoked provolone pizza was delivered halfway through the flight followed by a sandwich or salad and tiramisu 90 minutes before landing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
German Owen Ansah completed the podium after Italy's two-time defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs pulled up with an injury at halfway.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
We never run out of things to say, and our walk halfway home together never feels like enough time to cover it all.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
