half

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.

“Half” is pronounced HAHF (/ˈhæf/ in IPA).

Here is “half” used in a sentence: “She ate half a sandwich before the meeting.”

Depending on how it is used, “half” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.

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).

“Half” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Half” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: equal to one of two equal parts of something.

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.

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.

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.

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.