half
HAHF
Half (adj) means Equal to one of two equal parts of something. Example: “She ate half a sandwich before the meeting.”
adj
1
Equal to one of two equal parts of something.
"She ate half a sandwich before the meeting."
"Half the class failed the pop quiz."
"Add half a cup of milk to the flour and stir well."
adv
1
Partially, or to an incomplete degree.
"He was half asleep during the lecture."
"The job was only half finished by Friday."
"The soup was half cold by the time the guests finally sat down."
noun
1
One of two equal parts into which something is divided.
"Cut the apple into two halves."
"The first half of the film was slow, but the ending was brilliant."
"We split the bill and each paid one half."
How to use half
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of two equal parts of something, or "partially" when used as an adverb.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
half an hour
half price
half asleep
cut in half
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- halves
- Past tense
- halved
Fill the gap
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She ate _____ a sandwich before the meeting.
Etymology
From Old English healf, meaning "half" or "side," from an ancient Germanic root found across languages such as German (halb) and Swedish (halv).
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for half
See all rhymes for half →Frequently asked questions
What does “half” mean?
The word “half” means equal to one of two equal parts of something. In plain terms, one of two equal parts of something, or "partially" when used as an adverb.
How do you pronounce “half”?
“Half” is pronounced HAHF (/ˈhæf/ in IPA).
How do you use “half” in a sentence?
Here is “half” used in a sentence: “She ate half a sandwich before the meeting.”
What part of speech is “half”?
Depending on how it is used, “half” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “half” come from?
The word “half” comes from Old English. From Old English healf, meaning "half" or "side," from an ancient Germanic root found across languages such as German (halb) and Swedish (halv).
Is “half” a common word?
“Half” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “half” have?
“Half” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: equal to one of two equal parts of something.
What is the difference between half and quarter?
Half means one of two equal parts, so it is fifty per cent of something. A quarter means one of four equal parts, or twenty-five per cent. Two quarters make a half, and two halves make a whole. Half is the larger share, dividing something into two rather than four.
What is the difference between half and halve?
Half is the noun or adjective naming one of two equal parts: half the cake. Halve is the verb meaning to divide something into two equal parts, or to reduce it by half: please halve the recipe. Half describes the portion, while halve describes the action of splitting it.
What is the opposite of half?
The most natural opposite of half is whole, since a whole is the complete thing before it is divided. Double is the opposite in another sense — twice the amount rather than a part of it. Which one fits depends on whether you mean completeness or quantity.
What is an example of half?
You might say 'half an hour' for thirty minutes, 'half the class' for one of two equal groups of students, or 'a half portion' for a smaller serving. In each case half signals that something has been divided into two equal parts and you are referring to one of them.
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