adj · adv · intj · noun · prep · verb · 27 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈhɛə̯f/New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
Northern-England, Scotland:/ˈhaf/
rhymes with -æf
CMU ARPABET:HH AE1 F
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Consisting of a half (1⁄2, 50%).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
a half kilo
a half hour
a half dollar
China's population density used to be half that of Britain.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: semi-, hemi-, demi-
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
a half truth
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
a half brother or half sister
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
a half uncle or half aunt or half cousin
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adv
Meaning 5
In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adv
Meaning 6
In some part approximating a half.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adv
Meaning 7
Partially; imperfectly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
half-colored
The task is only half done.
I was half persuaded by your convincing argument.
The patient was half conscious and muttering a few words.
He does sometimes half wish to change his life, but it is too difficult.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adv
Meaning 8
Practically, nearly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
intj
Meaning 9
A call reminding performers that the performance will begin in thirty minutes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I ate the smaller half of the apple.
You don’t know the half of it.
Of the passengers on the plane, half were English.
The cake was delicious: half was vanilla and half was chocolate.
Half (of) my friends live abroad.
I’ve bought some chocolate. You can have half.
One and a half miles equals a mile and a half.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
One of two equal periods into which a game is divided.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Examples
An association football match usually consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
Half of a standard measure, chiefly:
half a pint of beer or cider. (Refusing a pint) Just a half, thank you. (Offering to top up a pint glass) Do you want a half in that? (Minimizing the amount of drink taken) A swift half at the Pear Tree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
Half of a standard measure, chiefly:
A barrel measure of 27 gallons (half a hogshead).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: liquor trade
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: preceded by “a” or a number
Examples
Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: 1⁄2
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
A half sibling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
A child ticket. Two and a half to Paddington.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
abbreviated form for half marathon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
noun
Meaning 20
Clipping of half-dollar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
Qualifier: numismatic slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
prep
Meaning 21
Half past; a half-hour (30 minutes) after the last hour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK
Examples
The time is 9:30; it is half nine.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: half past
Antonyms: none provided
22
prep
Meaning 22
A half-hour to (preceding) the next hour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
Examples
In some countries, "half seven" means 6:30.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
verb
Meaning 23
To halve.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: obsolete except nonstandard
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: part, section, division
Narrower terms: first half, second half, last half
History
Etymology
From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz. Cognates Cognate with Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch half, West Frisian heal, Dutch half, German halb, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.
Across languages
Translations
364 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Abkhaz:
абжа
(abẑa)
— consisting of a half
Albanian:
gjysmë
— consisting of a half
Southern Altai:
јарым
(ǰarïm)
— consisting of a half
Armenian:
կես
(kes)
— consisting of a half
Assamese:
আধা
(adha)
— consisting of a half
Azerbaijani:
yarım
— consisting of a half
Bashkir:
ярты
(yartı)
— consisting of a half
Bashkir:
ярым
(yarım)
— consisting of a half
Central Bikol:
kabanga
— consisting of a half
Bulgarian:
половин
(polovin)
— consisting of a half
Catalan:
mig
— consisting of a half
Chechen:
ах
(ax)
— consisting of a half
Chinese Cantonese:
半
(bun3)
— consisting of a half
Chinese Mandarin:
半
(bàn)
— consisting of a half
Czech:
půl
— consisting of a half
Danish:
halv
— consisting of a half
Dutch:
half
— consisting of a half
Esperanto:
duona
— consisting of a half
Estonian:
pool
— consisting of a half
Ewe:
afɑ̃
— consisting of a half
Finnish:
puoli
— consisting of a half
French:
demi
— consisting of a half
West-Frisian:
heal
— consisting of a half
Friulian:
mieç
— consisting of a half
Georgian:
ნახევარი
(naxevari)
— consisting of a half
German:
halb
— consisting of a half
Gothic:
𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃
(halbs)
— consisting of a half
Greek:
ήμισυς
(ímisys)
— consisting of a half
Greek:
μισός
(misós)
— consisting of a half
Ancient Greek:
ἥμισυς
(hḗmisus)
— consisting of a half
Gujarati:
અર્ધું
(ardhũ)
— consisting of a half
Gujarati:
અડધું
(aḍadhũ)
— consisting of a half
Hindi:
आधा
(ādhā)
— consisting of a half
Hindi:
अर्ध
(ardh)
— consisting of a half
Hindi:
अर्द्ध
(arddh)
— consisting of a half
Indonesian:
setengah
— consisting of a half
Irish:
leath-
— consisting of a half
Japanese:
半
(nakaba, han)
— consisting of a half
Japanese:
ハーフ
(hāfu)
— consisting of a half
Kapampangan:
kapitna
— consisting of a half
Khmer:
កន្លះ
(kɑɑkɑnlah)
— consisting of a half
Khmer:
ចំហៀង
(cɑmhiəng)
— consisting of a half
Korean:
반
(ban)
— consisting of a half
Central Kurdish:
نیو
(nîw)
— consisting of a half
Northern Kurdish:
nîv
— consisting of a half
Lao:
ເຄິ່ງ
(khœng)
— consisting of a half
Latgalian:
puse
— consisting of a half
Latin:
dīmidium
— consisting of a half
Latin:
sēmis
— consisting of a half
Latvian:
puse
— consisting of a half
Lithuanian:
pusė
— consisting of a half
Manchu:
ᡥᠣᠨᡨᠣᡥᠣ
(hontoho)
— consisting of a half
Māori:
haurua
— consisting of a half
Mongolian:
хагас
(xagas)
— consisting of a half
Norwegian Bokmål:
halv
— consisting of a half
Norwegian Nynorsk:
halv
— consisting of a half
Occitan:
mièg
— consisting of a half
Odia:
ଅଧା
(adhā)
— consisting of a half
Persian:
نیم
(nim)
— consisting of a half
Polish:
pół-
— consisting of a half
Polish:
połowiczny
— consisting of a half
Portuguese:
metade
— consisting of a half
Portuguese:
meio
— consisting of a half
Quechua:
ch'iqta
— consisting of a half
Romanian:
semi-
— consisting of a half
Romanian:
emi-
— consisting of a half
Romanian:
jumate
— consisting of a half
Romanian:
jumătate
— consisting of a half
Russian:
пол-
(pol-)
— consisting of a half
Russian:
полу-
(polu-)
— consisting of a half
Sanskrit:
अर्ध
(ardhá)
— consisting of a half
Serbo-Croatian:
polovina
— consisting of a half
Sinhalese:
බාගය
(bāgaya)
— consisting of a half
Slovene:
pol
— consisting of a half
Spanish:
medio
— consisting of a half
Sranan Tongo:
afu
— consisting of a half
Swedish:
halv
— consisting of a half
Tagalog:
kalahati
— consisting of a half
Tamil:
அரை
(arai)
— consisting of a half
Thai:
ครึ่ง
(krʉ̂ng)
— consisting of a half
Thai:
กึ่ง
(gʉ̀ng)
— consisting of a half
Northern Thai:
ᨣᩕᩮᩥ᩠᩵ᨦ
— consisting of a half
Turkish:
yarı
— consisting of a half
Turkish:
buçuk
— consisting of a half
Vietnamese:
phân nửa
— consisting of a half
Yiddish:
האַלב
(halb)
— consisting of a half
Bashkir:
ярты
(yartı)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Bashkir:
ярым
(yarım)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Catalan:
mig
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Dutch:
half
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Finnish:
puolittainen
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Finnish:
puoli-
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Finnish:
puoleksi
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
German:
halb
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Central Kurdish:
نیو
(nîw)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Central Kurdish:
نیوەونیو
(nîwewnîw)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Latvian:
puse
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Portuguese:
parte
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Sinhalese:
භාගය
(bhāgaya)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Swedish:
halv
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Tagalog:
kalahati
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Tamil:
அரை
(arai)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Tamil:
பாதி
(pāti)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Thai:
ครึ่ง
(krʉ̂ng)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Thai:
กึ่ง
(gʉ̀ng)
— consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half
Bulgarian:
полу
(polu)
— having one parent in common
Dutch:
half-
— having one parent in common
Estonian:
pool-
— having one parent in common
Finnish:
-puoli
— having one parent in common
Georgian:
ნახევარ-
(naxevar-)
— having one parent in common
Polish:
przyrodni
— having one parent in common
Swedish:
halv
— having one parent in common
Dutch:
half-
— related through one common ancestor
Estonian:
pool-
— related through one common ancestor
Finnish:
-puoli
— related through one common ancestor
Icelandic:
hálf-
— related through one common ancestor
Swedish:
halv
— related through one common ancestor
Azerbaijani:
yarı
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Bashkir:
ярым
(yarım)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Bashkir:
яртылай
(yartılay)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Bulgarian:
наполовина
(napolovina)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Dutch:
half
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Estonian:
pool
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Finnish:
puoli-
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Finnish:
puoliksi
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Finnish:
puolittain
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Georgian:
სანახევროდ
(sanaxevrod)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
German:
halb
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Hungarian:
fél-
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Hungarian:
félig
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Italian:
mezzo
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Northern Kurdish:
nîv
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Norwegian Bokmål:
halv-
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Norwegian Nynorsk:
halv-
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Russian:
почти́
(počtí)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Russian:
наполови́ну
(napolovínu)
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Spanish:
mediamente
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Spanish:
medio
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Spanish:
semi-
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Swedish:
halvt
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree
Turkish:
yarı
— in two equal parts or to an equal degree