HALF Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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half

[ haf ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural halves

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.
a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½).
Sports. either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them. Compare quarter ( def 10 ).
one of two; a part of a pair.
Informal.
1. half dollar.
2. the sum of 50 cents:
  Four dimes and two nickels make a half.
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.
Football. a halfback.
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

being one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole:
a half quart.
being half or about half of anything in degree, amount, length, etc.:
at half speed; half sleeve.
partial or incomplete:
half measures.

adverb

in or to the extent or measure of half.
in part; partly; incompletely:
half understood.
Synonyms: , ,
to some extent; almost:
half recovered.

half

/ ��ɑː�� /

noun

1. either of two equal or corresponding parts that together comprise a whole
2. a quantity equalling such a part
  half a dozen
half a pint, esp of beer
a small drink of spirits, esp whisky
sport the half of the pitch regarded as belonging to one team
golf an equal score on a hole or round with an opponent
(in various games) either of two periods of play separated by an interval (the first half and second half )
a half-price ticket on a bus, train, etc
short for half-hour
short for halfpenny
sport short for halfback
obsolete.
a half-year period
better half humorous.
a person's wife or husband
by half
by an excessive amount or to an excessive degree
he's too arrogant by half
by halves
used with a negative without being thorough or exhaustive
we don't do things by halves
go halves
often foll byon, in, etc
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. being a half or approximately a half
  half the kingdom
2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )
  half of them came

adjective

not perfect or complete; partial
he only did a half job on it

adverb

to the amount or extent of a half
to a great amount or extent
partially; to an extent
half two informal.
30 minutes after two o'clock
have half a mind to
to have the intention of
not half 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-

prefix

one of two equal parts
half-moon
related by one parent only
half-sister
not completely; partly
half-hardy

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Grammar Note

See well ¹.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of half¹

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of half¹

Old English healf; related to Old Norse halfr, Old High German halb, Dutch half

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Idioms and Phrases

by half, by very much; by far:
She was too talented by half for her routine role.
half again as much / many, as much as 50 percent more:
This mug holds half again as much coffee as the smaller one.
half in two, Southern U.S. (chiefly Gulf States). in or into two parts; in half:
Cut the cake half in two.
in half, divided into halves:
The vase broke in half.
not half,
1. not at all; not really:
  His first attempts at painting are not half bad.
2. half ( def 20 ).
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.

More idioms and phrases containing half

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Within six months, Nintendo had slashed the price by almost half, and over time it picked up traction.

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While the Republican candidates in Florida prevailed, their winning margins were about 15%, which is about half of what Trump posted in those congressional districts in November.

From

When it arrives, in simple letters against a black backdrop, it doesn’t so much introduce the film as cleave it in half.

From

Both sportswear companies rely heavily on Asian factory hubs for their inventories, with about half of Nike's shoes and 39% of Adidas' shoes made in Vietnam.

From

Online, their feminist message and financial education content have resonated with over half a million Instagram followers, even as many American corporations dismantle many DEI initiatives and social media messaging.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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