halftime

1 of 2

noun

half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhäf-
: an intermission between halves of a game or contest (as in football or basketball)

half-time

2 of 2

adjective

ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce half-time (audio)
ˈhäf-
: involving or working half the standard hours
half-time adverb

Examples of halftime in a Sentence

Noun The score was tied at halftime. The coaches discussed strategy during halftime.
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.
Noun
Incumbents are often guaranteed certain positions in the ad roster, such as appearing before halftime or in the first quarter. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 The Valkyries beat the Toronto Tempo 92-82 on Tuesday night at Chase Center, overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and using a 15-0 run that spanned both sides of the halftime break to set themselves up to take control in the second half. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
There is still some uncertainty around Tijjani Reijnders, who started in an attacking midfield role against Inter, and Gonzalez, who came on at half-time. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira were among those who performed at the World Cup's first ever half-time show, which stretched the break out to more than 27 minutes, drawing criticism from commentators and fans. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for halftime

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of halftime was in 1861

Rhymes for halftime

See All Rhymes for halftime

Browse Nearby Words

half-timber
halftime
half-time
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Halftime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halftime. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

halftime

noun
half·​time ˈhaf-ˌtīm How to pronounce halftime (audio)
ˈhȧf-
: an intermission marking the completion of half of a game (as in football)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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