in half

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

half /hæf/   n., pl. halves (havz), pron., adj., adv. 
n. [countable]

1. one of two equal or nearly equal parts:
   The two halves of the torn dollar bill fitted together perfectly.
2. Sport either of two equal periods of play in a game. Compare quarter (def. 10).
3. one of two;
   a part of a pair.
4. Informal Terms the sum of 50 cents:
   [usually singular] It cost a dollar and a half.

adj. [~ + a/the + noun]

5. a quantity or amount equal to one half of something;
   (½):
   half a loaf; half a dozen people.

pron. 

6. a quantity or amount equal to one half of (some group or thing): [plural;
   used with a plural verb]:
   Of the passengers on the boat, half were American, half were Canadian.
   [singular;
   used with a singular verb]:
   The cake was delicious: half was vanilla and half was chocolate.

adj. [before a noun]

7. being one of two equal or nearly equal parts of a whole:
   a half quart.
8. being half in degree, amount, length, etc.:
   travel at half speed.
9. partial or incomplete:
   half measures.

adv. 

10. in or to the extent or measure of half:
    Was the glass half full, or half empty?
11. in part;
    partly;
    incompletely:
    half understood.

Idioms

12. Idioms by half:
    • by a great deal;
      by far:
      He is too clever by half.
13. Idioms half again as much or as many, as much as 50 percent more.
14. Idioms in half, into two almost equal parts:
    The vase broke in half.
15. Idioms not (the) half of it, a significant yet relatively minor part of something that remains to be described in full:
    It's a shocking story, but you don't know the half of it.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

half  (haf, häf ), n., pl. halves (havz, hävz), adj., adv. 
n. 

1. one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole, as an object, or unit of measure or time;
   a part of a whole equal or almost equal to the remainder.
2. a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½).
3. Sport either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them. Cf. quarter (def. 10).
4. one of two;
   a part of a pair.
5. Informal Terms
   • See half dollar. 
   • the sum of 50 cents:
     Four dimes and two nickels make a half.
6. Sport [Baseball.] either of the two units of play into which an inning is divided, the visiting team batting in the first unit and the home team batting in the second.
7. Sport [Football.] a halfback.
8. British Terms
   • a half-crown coin.
   • the sum of a half crown;
     two shillings, sixpence.
   • a half pint:
     He ordered a half of ale.
9. Idioms not the half of, a significant yet relatively minor part of something that remains to be described in full:
   He accused them of being responsible for the error, and that's not the half of the story.
   Also, not half of, not half. 

adj. 

10. being one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole:
    a half quart.
11. being half or about half of anything in degree, amount, length, etc.:
    at half speed; half sleeve.
12. partial or incomplete:
    half measures.

adv. 

13. in or to the extent or measure of half.
14. in part;
    partly;
    incompletely:
    half understood.
15. to some extent;
    almost:
    half recovered.
16. Idioms by half, by very much;
    by far:
    She was too talented by half for her routine role.
17. Idioms half again as much or as many, as much as 50 percent more:
    This mug holds half again as much coffee as the smaller one.
18. Dialect Terms, Idioms half in two, [Southern U.S.] (chiefly Gulf States). in or into two parts;
    in half:
    Cut the cake half in two.
19. Idioms in half, divided into halves:
    The vase broke in half.
20. not half:
    • not at all;
      not really:
      His first attempts at painting are not half bad.
    • See half (def. 9).

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English h(e)alf; cognate with German Halb, Old Norse halfr, Gothic halbs

Synonyms

• 14. barely, somewhat, partially; sort of.