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A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɑːf/
US
- /ˈhæf/
Meanings
Determiner
amounting to one of two equal parts
Adjective
equal to or involving only half
Noun
one of two equal or nearly equal parts
one of two periods in a game or event
Adverb
partly or not completely
Beyond the definition
Imagine cutting an apple into two equal pieces. Each piece is a half. That is the basic idea: one of two equal parts, or 50% of something. But the word is also used in everyday life for things that are not complete, like a half-finished project, or for things done only partly, like being half asleep.
You can use it for amounts of time and quantity too, as in "half an hour" or "half the class." It also appears in common phrases. If you are "only half joking," part of what you say is playful, but part of it is serious. If two people "meet halfway," they both give a little to reach an agreement.
The word "half" looks simple, but it does a lot of work in English. At its core, it means one of two equal parts of something. If you split a sandwich into two equal pieces, each piece is a half. In the same way, "half" can mean 50% of an amount, as in "half a cup of sugar," "half the money," or "half an hour."
From there, the word naturally extends to the idea of something being incomplete or only partly true. A "half-done" task is not finished. Someone who is "half listening" is paying attention only a little. If you are "half asleep," you are between sleeping and being fully awake. In this sense, "half" often works like a simple way to say "partly" or "not fully."
It also appears in many common expressions. A "half-hearted" effort lacks full energy or feeling. A "half-truth" gives only part of the truth and can mislead people. If two sides "meet halfway," they compromise. If someone is "only half joking," the comment is playful but still carries some real meaning. You may also hear "my better half" as a warm, informal way to mean a husband, wife, or partner.
So while "half" begins with the clear idea of dividing something into two equal parts, it also helps English speakers talk about degree, effort, honesty, time, and quantity in a very natural way.
Examples
- 1
Food sharing
We shared a pizza and each ate half.
- 2
Proportion
Only half the seats were taken.
- 3
Money
I spent half of my paycheck on rent.
- 4
Movie parts
The first half of the movie was slow, but the ending was great.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Time expression
I'll be ready in half an hour.
- 6
Folding
Fold the paper in half.
- 7
Sleepiness
She was still half asleep when I called.
- 8
Partial understanding
I only understood half of what he said.
- 9
Tone
He was half joking, but I knew he meant it.
- 10
Frequency phrase
Half the time, I forget where I put my keys.
- Phrasehalf the time
very often, in many situations
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- halfnounadverbadjective
Forms
- halvespluralnounadverbadjective
- halfspluralnounadverbadjective