# half /ˈhæf/ (US) · /hˈɑːf/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/half Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. one of two equal parts noun · CEFR A1 one of two equal parts that make up a whole. For teachers: one of two equal or approximately equal parts into which a whole is or can be divided. - She gave half of her sandwich to her friend because he forgot his lunch. - The property was divided into two equal halves, with each sibling receiving a portion of the fertile farmland near the river. ### 2. sports/games noun · CEFR A2 one of the two main periods of time in a sports game. For teachers: either of the two equal periods into which a game is divided. - The team played much better in the second half and scored two goals. - After a scoreless first half, the coach made several tactical substitutions to increase the team's offensive pressure. ### 3. a drink noun · CEFR B1 · British English half a pint of beer or another drink. For teachers: a measure of liquid, specifically half a pint of beer or cider. - I'll just have a half of bitter, please, as I am driving later. - He ordered a half of local ale while waiting for his colleagues to arrive at the pub for the evening. ### 4. partial or 50% adjective · CEFR A2 being one of two equal parts of something. For teachers: consisting of a half or approximately a half; partial in nature. - He drank a half glass of water before going for a run. - The project was left in a half-finished state after the primary investor suddenly withdrew their funding. ### 5. family relations adjective · CEFR B1 related through only one parent. For teachers: sharing only one parent rather than two. - She has a half brother who lives in Australia. - Although they are half sisters, they grew up in the same household and remain exceptionally close as adults. ### 6. partially adverb · CEFR B1 partly or not completely. For teachers: to the extent of a half; partially or imperfectly. - I was half asleep when the phone rang this morning. - The instructions were only half understood, leading to several avoidable errors during the assembly process. ### 7. time-telling preposition · CEFR A2 · British English · Dialect thirty minutes past the hour. For teachers: used to indicate thirty minutes past a specific hour; often used without 'past' in certain dialects. - The train leaves at half eight, so we should get to the station early. - In many parts of the UK, people say 'half six' to mean 6:30, which can confuse learners used to the full 'half past' construction. Usage: In British English, 'half' followed by a number (e.g., 'half ten') is a common shorthand for 'half past ten'. ### 8. theatre warning interjection · CEFR C1 · Technical a call to tell actors that the show starts in thirty minutes. For teachers: a traditional call given to performers thirty minutes before the commencement of a performance. - The stage manager shouted 'the half' to let the cast know it was time to get ready. - When the call for the half was announced, the lead actress began her final vocal warm-ups in the dressing room. ## Examples - I gave my friend half of my sandwich. - The team played much better in the second half of the game after the coach changed the strategy. - The first half of the play establishes the historical setting, while the second half focuses entirely on the internal psychological struggles of the protagonist. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.