26984 words

half

18 definitions • 37 examples
1
either of the two equal or nearly equal parts that together make up a whole:

Examples:

half of "What's half of 96?" "48."
Roughly half (of) the class are Spanish and the others are a mixture of nationalities.
in half Cut the apple in half (= into two equal parts).
into halves Cut the larger tomatoes into halves.
The recipe tells you to use a pound and a half of butter.
She was born in the latter half of the 18th century.
Half of me would just like to give it all up and travel around the world (= partly I would like to, but partly I would not).
2
a lot:

Examples:

half of She invited a lot of people to the party but half of them didn't turn up.
half the time I don't even know where she is half the time.
3
Half past a particular hour is 30 minutes later than that hour:

Examples:

I'll meet you at half past nine (= 09.30 or 21.30).
4
only partly:

Examples:

He answered the door half naked.
I was half expecting to see her at the party.
I'm half inclined to take the job just because it's in Argentina.
He was being funny but I think he was half serious.
The bottle's half empty.
5
to divide the cost of something with someone:

Examples:

go halves on Shall we go halves on a bottle of champagne?
6
equal amounts of two different things:

Examples:

The waste is mixed half and half with reclaimed wood and turned into decking.
7
approximately 50 percent less than the size or amount of something else:

Examples:

They had about half as many applications as they did four years ago.
8
approximately 50 percent more than the existing number or amount:

Examples:

Last year, we raised almost £15,000. This year we raised about half as much again.
9
either of two periods of time into which a game is divided:

Examples:

He has only made one NFL start and was pulled out after an ineffective first half.
10
in team sports, either of the two halves into which the playing area is divided:

Examples:

His attacking instincts often find him playing in the opposition's half.
A long kick allowed Bath to break into the Bristol half.
We're giving away too many silly fouls, especially in our own half.
11
in team sports such as football, rugby, and hockey, a player who plays mostly in the middle of the playing area:

Examples:

They have two young halves, who will only get better.
The halves played close in front of the defending centre-half.
12
in golf, a score for a hole that is the same as your opponent's score:

Examples:

She holed from six feet for a half at the seventeenth.
It was only with an 18-inch putt for a half at the 15th that he claimed the match, and his team's victory.
13
half a pint of a drink, especially beer:

Examples:

A pint of lager and two halves, please.
14
a ticket that is cheaper because it is for a child:

Examples:

Two (adults) and three halves to Manchester, please.
15
either of the two equal or nearly equal parts that together make up a whole:

Examples:

[ U ] Half of 12 is 6.
[ U ] Half (of) the students are Spanish.
[ U ] Cut the apple in half (= into two equal parts).
[ C ] The recipe calls for a pound and a half of potatoes.
16
In sports, a half is one of two equal periods of play, often with a short pause for rest between them.
17
referring to either of the two equal or nearly equal parts that together make up a whole:

Examples:

Each talk should last about a half hour/half an hour (= 30 minutes).
We need half a dozen (= six) eggs.
18
Half also means partly or not completely:

Examples:

She was still sleepy and only half aware of what was happening.
I half expected (= almost expected) to see her at the party.

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