halves
Americannoun
idioms
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by halves,
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incompletely or partially.
to do things by halves.
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halfheartedly.
better not at all than by halves.
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go halves, to share equally; divide evenly.
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.
The data pointed to “both halves of the Fed’s problem at once,” said Vincent Ahn, a portfolio manager at SLW Investments.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
Dresser wanted a Dutch door — one where both the top and bottom halves swing open independently — attached to their office space, where they sometimes isolate fosters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
"The amendment and the National Suicide Prevention Bill are two halves of one reform," said Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, of the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
"She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves," they added.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
It can vibrate in halves, with a node at the middle of the string as well as each end, or in thirds, fourths, and so on.
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.
