half
/hæf/
NOUN
1. One of two equal or nearly equal parts
One of two usually equal parts into which something is divided or regarded as divided.
1.1. One of two equal portions
One of two equal parts of a whole, quantity, object, or amount.
Synonyms
- fifty percent
- fifty-fifty
- moiety
- bisection
- fraction
- portion
- part
- piece
Antonyms
- whole
- entire
- total
- full
- complete
Examples
- She ate only half of her sandwich and saved the rest for later.
- The recipe required half a cup of sugar.
Related Words
- division
- segment
- section
- hemisphere
- semicircle
- constituent
- component
1.2. A part or share of something
One portion, side, or share of something, especially when considered in relation to another person or part.
Synonyms
- part
- portion
- piece
- side
- share
- fraction
- moiety
Antonyms
- whole
- entirety
- totality
Examples
- Each partner contributed half of the investment.
- She completed her half of the project before the deadline.
Related Words
- component
- constituent
- section
- segment
- counterpart
1.3. A half sibling
A sibling who shares one biological parent with another sibling but does not share both parents.
Synonyms
- half sibling
- half-brother
- half-sister
Examples
- His half lives in another city with their shared mother.
Related Words
1.4. A child admission ticket
A reduced-price admission ticket for a child, commonly costing approximately half the adult fare.
Synonyms
- child ticket
- half-price ticket
Examples
- The family purchased two adult tickets and one half for their youngest child.
Related Words
VERB
2. To divide into two equal parts
To divide something into two equal or approximately equal parts.
2.1. Divide something into two parts
To split or separate an object, quantity, or amount into two portions.
Synonyms
Examples
- The carpenter halved the wooden board to make two equal pieces.
- They decided to half the expenses between them.
Related Words
- bisection
- division
- fraction
- section
- segment
ADJECTIVE
3. Consisting of one half
Representing or containing one of two equal parts, equivalent to fifty percent of a whole.
3.1. Equal to fifty percent
Describes an amount, measurement, or quantity that represents exactly one half of a whole.
Synonyms
- fifty-percent
- 50-percent
- one-half
- fractional
Antonyms
- whole
- entire
- full
- complete
- total
Examples
- The half portion was enough for one person.
- The company offered a half share of the available profits.
Related Words
- partial
- divided
- bisected
- fraction
- proportion
3.2. Partial or incomplete
Describes something that is only partly present, developed, completed, or effective rather than being whole or complete.
Synonyms
- partial
- incomplete
- imperfect
- fragmentary
- deficient
- limited
- fractional
Antonyms
Examples
- The report contained only a half explanation of the problem.
- They were left with a half-finished building after the project was abandoned.
Related Words
3.3. Related through one common parent
Describes a sibling who has only one biological parent in common with another sibling.
Synonyms
- half-blood
- half-related
Examples
- Her half brother grew up in a different household.
Related Words
- half-brother
- half-sister
- sibling
- parent
ADVERB
4. Partly or to an incomplete degree
To an extent approximating one half or to some degree rather than completely.
4.1. In two equal parts
Describes something divided into two equal portions or performed to an equal degree on both sides.
Synonyms
- equally
- fifty-fifty
- evenly
- in half
Antonyms
Examples
- The inheritance was divided half between the two children.
Related Words
- bisected
- divided
- partitioned
- halved
4.2. Partially or to some extent
Describes an action, condition, or quality that exists only partly or to an approximate degree.
Synonyms
- partially
- partly
- incompletely
- somewhat
- moderately
- relatively
- rather
- fairly
- kind of
- sort of
- more or less
- to some extent
Antonyms
- absolutely
- completely
- entirely
- fully
- totally
- wholly
- altogether
Examples
- The project was only half completed when the deadline arrived.
- He was half convinced that the plan would succeed.
Related Words
- slightly
- barely
- minimally
- approximately
- fractionally
PREPOSITION
5. Thirty minutes after an hour
A preposition used with an hour to indicate thirty minutes after that hour.
5.1. Thirty minutes past the hour
Indicates a time that is thirty minutes after a specified hour.
Synonyms
Examples
- The train leaves at half past six.
Related Words
- half-hour
- thirty minutes
- time
- clock