Skip to main content
half

half

671 1.0
One of two equal parts of a game or match
  • noun
  • /hæf/
translation icon : mitad
  • The negative coefficient indicates that teams leading at half-time were more likely to win the contest.
  • second half
  • first half
  • last half

The game's on maybe half time at the earliest.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Teams leading at the half were far more likely to win than those that were behind.

    Academic text (1999)
  • After a strong first half, the team made several adjustments during the break to improve their game.

  • Good first half, good first half, big out there it is.

  • No, Yeah, that was you poor first half, but he was poor first half.

  • What did you think of the first half after I was asleep?

  • Late in the game's first half, Zack tackled a runner rushing toward the end zone.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In soccer, the teams went into the locker rooms at the end of the half to discuss their strategies.

  • The audience was eager to see the second half of the performance after the intermission.

Synonyms

one-half
vshalf
61 1.0

One of two equal parts of something

refers specifically to a timed game segment not any equal part
3.6

A set time in a game or match when the action continues

refers to a specific one of two equal timed intervals in such games

Idioms

not half bad
  • Informal
14 7.4

Better than you expected

the half of it
  • Informal
13 6.5

Only part of the story is known, with much more hidden

At a cost that is half the usual amount

half a mind
  • Informal
5 7.5

A feeling of wanting to do something but not being sure

4 8.1

To act or speak without thinking first and cause problems

glass half-empty
  • Informal
2 6.5

A person who often sees the negative side of things

Acting too smart so it annoys other people and causes problems

To focus on the good parts of a situation instead of the bad

1 9.2

To act too quickly without thinking first

half an ear
  • Informal
1 7.1

To listen without giving full attention

1 5.2

Served on the bottom shell only without the top shell

A very good deal that is worth more than its low price

Everywhere in a hurried, messy way like people searching quickly

half a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is foolish and lacks common sense

half an eye
  • Informal
8.8

To notice or understand what is happening with little attention

half pregnant
  • Informal
9.8

Only a full decision is possible, with no room for partial support

To take a very long time and cause a lot of trouble

Two choices that are almost the same and make no real difference

Compounds

395 1.0

A period of thirty minutes

160 1.6

The later part of a game after halftime

126 1.0

The first period of a game when play is split into two equal parts

121 1.0

A group of six people or things

A time that lasts 90 minutes

61 1.0

One of two equal parts of something

48 1.0

A distance equal to half a mile, about 800 metres

46 2.1

A brother who has only one parent in common with you

half-naked
  • NSFW
40 3.0

Wearing only a few clothes with much of the body uncovered

37 1.0

A group of six things or people

33 3.0

A period of fifty years

30 1.0

Six things or people that form a group

28 1.1

Available for half the usual price

half-breed
  • Slur
24 9.9

An offensive word for a person with one Indigenous and one European parent

19 2.3

A sister who shares one parent with you but not both parents

16 6.7

A statement that is partly true but leaves out important facts to mislead

16 1.1

A sister who shares one parent with you but not both

half-wit
  • Offensive
15 8.9

A rude word for a person who seems very stupid

better half
  • Informal
14 3.3

A person someone is married to or lives with, said in a friendly, joking way

half-life
  • Specialized
14 5.6

Time it takes for a substance to drop to half its original amount

11 3.0

The person you love and share your life with

half-baked
  • Informal
11 6.5

Not fully planned or sensible

9 3.2

The middle area of a basketball court near the center line

7 1.0

A weight equal to eight ounces

half-staff
  • Formal
7 7.1

A position partway down a flagpole where a flag flies to show respect after a death

6 3.4

Only partly finished and not ready to use

Pay equal to one and a half times the normal rate for overtime work

5 2.0

A mix of milk and cream often added to coffee

5 3.8

A flag placed partway down its pole to show mourning or respect

4 6.7

A soft dim glow when things are only partly seen, like at dawn or dusk

4 1.4

The later part of a game or match after the break

4 3.2

Working or happening for only half the usual hours

half step
  • Specialized
3 4.4

The smallest jump between two notes in Western music, one piano key apart

3 1.4

A United States coin worth fifty cents

3 4.6

A shell cut in half that serves as a dish for oysters or clams

3 3.1

Measuring half the usual size

glass-half-full
  • Informal
3 5.8

Seeing the good side of things

1 2.5

One of two equal parts of a printed sheet used for text or an ad

1 9.3

An animal with only one purebred parent

half hitch
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A simple knot that holds a rope by looping its end around an object

half nelson
  • Jargon
1 7.4

A wrestling hold where one arm goes under the opponent's arm and presses the back of the neck

1 7.8

Very frightened or upset and not thinking clearly

1 2.6

A time when half of the Moon appears lit by the Sun

1 2.1

A short school holiday about halfway through a term

half-track
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A military vehicle with front wheels and back tracks for rough ground

1 9.6

A very short time, like a few moments

half gainer
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A dive in which a diver jumps forward and does a half backward flip to enter facing the board

1 4.6

Wearing only some clothes and showing parts of the body

half-pay
  • Archaic
1 7.0

A smaller amount of money given to a worker who is not working full time but is still employed

1 4.1

A day when people do not work for half the usual time

1 2.6

A small glass of drink about half the size of a pint, often for beer or milk

1 6.3

A short piece of underwear worn under a skirt to help it hang smoothly and stop it showing through

1 5.1

A remark that is partly a joke and partly serious

1 4.0

A mask that covers the upper part of the face, leaves the mouth visible, and has holes for the eyes

1 3.4

A short boot that covers the ankle and lower calf, reaching halfway to the knee

half crown
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A former British coin worth two shillings and sixpence

1 4.9

An outside door split into top and bottom parts that open separately

half note
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A musical note that lasts for two beats in common time

Divided equally between two people

half-caste
  • Slur
1 9.9

A hurtful word for a person of mixed race

1 3.6

Happens every thirty minutes

half-timbered
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A building with visible wooden frames and walls filled with brick or plaster

hell's half acre
  • Informal
1 9.9

A large messy area that is hard to search or manage

9.8

A number that shows how similar scores are between two random halves of a test

A group of seven items, often baked goods

A small axe that has one flat side for hammering and one sharp side for chopping wood

half binding
  • Specialized
9.5

A way of covering a book with the spine in one material and the covers in another

A person who shares only one parent with a brother or sister

half cross stitch
  • Specialized
7.2

A single slanted needle movement that makes part of a cross shape in embroidery

half eagle
  • Archaic
9.9

A former United States gold coin worth five dollars

A tennis shot played just after the ball bounces

A salad dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise and vinaigrette with garlic and cheese

5.1

A weak reason someone gives to avoid blame

How Long

season
1.0
match
517 1.4
half
671 1.0
moment
1.0

Surface Forms

half singular
halves plural

Etymology

Half comes from an old German word healf meaning 'one of two'. In many sports a game is split into two main parts, so each period is called a 'half'. That's why we say 'first half' and 'second half'.