half hour

noun

1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly
ˈhaf-ˈau̇(-ə)r-lē How to pronounce half hour (audio)
ˈhäf-
adverb or adjective

Examples of half hour in a Sentence

Trains depart every half hour. I waited a half hour in line.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The toddler had been rushed to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland early Wednesday following a blaze at a residence in the 200 block of 15th Street that began burning about a half hour after an earlier fire at a residence two doors away. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Panettiere was pronounced dead about a half hour after the call. — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 About a half hour later, authorities rescued a woman described as being in her 40s after receiving another report that a female could be heard yelling for help, according to Crabtree. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 There are some who bring something the size of the Taj Mahal to the beach, and spend a half hour of precious beach time setting it up. — John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for half hour

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of half hour was in the 15th century

Rhymes for half hour

See All Rhymes for half hour

Browse Nearby Words

half hose
half hour
half-hour glass
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20hour. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

half hour

noun
1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly
ˈhaf-ˈau̇(ə)r-lē, 
ˈhȧf-
adverb or adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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