half-time

noun

The interval between the two halves of a sports match.

“Let's get some pizza at half-time.”

Similar
Opposite

Meanings

nounhalf-time (countable and uncountable, plural half-times)

plural half-times · alternative halftime · alternative half time

  1. countableuncountablehobbiesThe interval between the two halves of a sports match.

    Let's get some pizza at half-time.

  2. attributivecountablesometimesuncountableHalf or approximately half the number of hours usually worked in a specified period.

    I'm following a half-time schedule this month.

  3. countableuncountableentertainmentA tempo in which the rhythm is emphasized so that it seems to have half as many metric divisions (e.g. emphasizing the start of every other bar rather than every bar).
  4. countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe time taken for a physical quantity to halve the difference between its present value and its final value.
adjectivehalf-time (not comparable)

alternative halftime · alternative half time

  1. not comparablePertaining to or characterized by half the usual duration.

    The remaining federal and State programs provide aid to part-time students only if attendance is half-time or more (at least six credit-hours).

    1979, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and Related Measures: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, First Session ...., page 162
    1 more example

    The remedy proposed is half-time schools. The teachers are to be engaged for a school year's service, but the pupils belonging to each school are to be divided into two sections. Each section is to spend half the time in school and the remainder at home.

    1884, The Ohio Educational Monthly, page 544
adverbhalf-time (not comparable)

alternative halftime · alternative half time

  1. not comparableIn a half time manner.

    I'm working half-time this month (two and a half days per week) before my maternity leave.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveinvolving half the standard or customary time for an activity

adverbfor less than the standard number of hours

Similar
part-timeparttime
Opposite
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Afrikaans rustyd
  • rustydsports: interval between halves
Bulgarian полувре́ме
  • полувре́ме (poluvréme)sports: interval between halves
Catalan mitja part
  • mitja partsports: interval between halves
Chinese Mandarin 半場 /半场, 半衰期
  • 半場 /半场 (bàncháng)sports: interval between halves
  • 半衰期 (bànshuāiqī)time to halve the difference between present value and final value
Czech poločas
  • poločassports: interval between halves
Dutch rust
  • rustsports: interval between halves
Finnish tauko, väliaika
  • taukosports: interval between halves
  • väliaikasports: interval between halves
  • puoliaikasports: interval between halves
  • puoliintumisaikatime to halve the difference between present value and final value
French half-time, mi-temps
  • half-timesports: interval between halves
  • mi-tempssports: interval between halves
German Halbzeitpause, Pause
  • Halbzeitpausesports: interval between halves
  • Pausesports: interval between halves
Hungarian félidő
  • félidősports: interval between halves
Icelandic hálfleikur, leikhlé
  • hálfleikursports: interval between halves
  • leikhlésports: interval between halves
Italian intervallo
  • intervallosports: interval between halves
Japanese ハーフタイム
  • ハーフタイム (hāfutaimu)sports: interval between halves
Korean 하프 타임
  • 하프 타임 (hapeu taim)sports: interval between halves
Malay separuh masa
  • separuh masasports: interval between halves
Māori weheruatanga
  • weheruatangasports: interval between halves
Norwegian Bokmål pause
  • pausesports: interval between halves
Portuguese meio-tempo
  • meio-temposports: interval between halves
Romanian pauză
  • pauzăsports: interval between halves
Russian тайм, полови́на вре́мени
  • тайм (tajm)sports: interval between halves
  • полови́на вре́мени (polovína vrémeni)time to halve the difference between present value and final value
Slovak polčas, polčas
  • polčassports: interval between halves
  • polčastime to halve the difference between present value and final value
Spanish entretiempo, descanso
  • entretiemposports: interval between halves
  • descansosports: interval between halves
  • medio tiemposports: interval between halves
Swedish halvtid
  • halvtidsports: interval between halves
Ukrainian тайм
  • тайм (tajm)sports: interval between halves
Yiddish האַלבצײַט
  • האַלבצײַט (hálbtsayt)sports: interval between halves
Cite this entry
APA

half-time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half-time

MLA

“half-time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half-time. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “half-time,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half-time.

Source: half-time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.