Half means one part of something when it is divided into two equal parts. It is used to show equal division.
I ate half of the cake.
The glass is half full.
Half as an adjective means about 50% of a total amount or time. It describes how much of something there is.
She worked half time last year.
We drove half the distance today.
Half means one of two parts in a time period or event, like in a game or a meeting. Each half divides the total time equally.
The football game has two halves.
She rested during the first half of the meeting.
Half can describe a person with parents from two different backgrounds or nationalities. It shows mixed origin.
She is a half English and half French girl.
My friend is a half-Chinese boy.
To half something means to divide or play only part of it. It is often used in sports and tasks but is less common as a verb.
He halfed in the second part of the game.
They halfed the task between them.
Half as an adverb means partly or not fully. It is used to describe something done to some extent.
The cake was half eaten.
She was half asleep on the bus.
Half can mean a small coin like a halfpenny or half-dollar. This usage is informal and sometimes old-fashioned.
He gave me a half for the candy.
I found a old half in the drawer.
Half in tennis can refer to a half-volley shot played close to the bounce. It is a specialized sports term.
He hit a perfect half in the match.
The player waited to hit the half.
