halve

American  

[hav, hahv] / hæv, hɑv /

verb (used with object)

halved, halving

1. to divide into two equal parts.

2. to share equally.

   to halve one's rations with a stranger.

3. to reduce to half.

4. Golf. to play (a hole, round, or match) in the same number of strokes as one's opponent.

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idioms

1. halve together, to join (two pieces of wood) by cutting from one, at the place of joining, a portion fitting to that left solid in the other.

halve British  

/ hɑːv /

verb

1. to divide into two approximately equal parts

2. to share equally

3. to reduce by half, as by cutting

4. golf to take the same number of strokes on (a hole or round) as one's opponent

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Other Word Forms

• unhalved adjective

Etymology

Origin of halve

1250–1300; Middle English halven, derivative of half

Explanation

To halve something is to divide it into two equal parts. When you share a pizza with your best friend, you can cut it in half, or halve it. A recipe might instruct you to halve an onion, and a little kid might request that you halve her peanut butter sandwich and cut the crusts off. You can also halve less physical things — you can halve your expenses if you reduce them by half, or halve the bill for lunch with your sister, if you split it with her. Halve comes from half, originally an Old English word meaning "side" or "part."

Example Sentences

At the same time, they are going to halve the value of the health top-up for most new claimants.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

They can ramp up the pressure even more on Arsenal with victory over Fulham on Wednesday to halve the deficit at the top before the Gunners face Brentford 24 hours later.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

The Labour government has pledged to halve the rate of violence against women and girls over the next decade.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Teachers will be given training to spot the signs of misogyny and tackle it in the classroom as part of the government's long-awaited strategy to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Just when I think I’m getting the hang of something, Asher will halve the time required of us to do certain missions or perform certain moves.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu