halfway

1 of 2

adverb

half·​way ˈhaf-ˈwā How to pronounce halfway (audio)
ˈhäf-
: midway between two points
At length the cat steps halfway out the door, showing his spotted brown coat and the stripes on his legs.Paul Comstock

halfway

2 of 2

adjective

1
: midway between two points
at the halfway point/mark
2
: partial
a halfway solution

Examples of halfway in a Sentence

Adjective She was leading at the halfway mark of the race. We're halfway toward completing the project. They're only offering halfway measures, not a real solution.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Teo, a 61-year-old first-time lawmaker, and his eight Cabinet ministers were sworn into office Wednesday, a month after general elections in the strategically significant nation of 11,500 people halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Rod McGuirk The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 Also, his hometown, Cincinnati, is halfway between two attractive jobs that are vacant (Ohio State) or likely to become vacant in a few weeks (Louisville). Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 For something that’s halfway between sporty and dressy, the Allbirds Tree Loungers, which are also slip-ons, are right on the money. Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries sent halfway around the world to spread the Good Word. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 18 Feb. 2024 Chloe then asked Victoria about the Beckham children, which led to hilarious memories of the brood attending fashion shows—including one at which Harper, the youngest, sat next to Anna with a matching bob hairstyle (and her fingers halfway up her nose). Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2024 Brenham is located halfway between Houston and Austin, and is known for its picturesque countryside and charming historic downtown. David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2024 Travis Kelce flew halfway across the world to support Taylor Swift in Sydney for her Eras Tour! Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 But don’t necessarily choose somewhere on the centerline—halfway between the edge and the centerline will receive fewer visitors yet get a similarly long totality. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The Miami Marlins are at the halfway point of spring training and three weeks away from starting the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 28. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 None of those measures has passed at the halfway point of the legislative session, while several dozen GOP proposals are still alive. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024 With Tuesday’s announcement, the museum has met the halfway point of its capital campaign. Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 21 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, Michonne, who left Alexandria at the halfway point of Season 10 to search for Rick, has made friends and enemies along her quest. Jessica Liese, Variety, 14 Feb. 2024 Those four were leading their respective divisions in winning percentage at the halfway point of the season. Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024 However, that does not discount the importance of Tuesday night’s first meeting between the two rivals at the halfway point of the conference season. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 30 Jan. 2024 The Golden State Warriors are 10th in the Western Conference at 27-26 at the season’s halfway mark. Jannelle Moore, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 With Florida’s legislative session firmly over the halfway mark, efforts to block heat protections are moving forward in Tallahassee. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'halfway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English half wey, from half half entry 2 + wey way entry 1

Adjective

derivative of halfway entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of halfway was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near halfway

Cite this Entry

“Halfway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halfway. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

halfway

adjective
half·​way -ˈwā How to pronounce halfway (audio)
1
: midway between two points
stop at the halfway mark
2
: partial sense 3
halfway measures
halfway adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on halfway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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