half hour

noun

1

: thirty minutes

2

: the middle point of an hour

half-hourly

ˈhaf-ˈau̇(-ə)r-lē 

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

Local boards must update their numbers either every half hour or hour, depending on the county, until all precincts have reported results. —Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 5 Nov. 2024

Biden sat down for roughly a half hour with the show's five co-hosts in what was his first interview since the Democratic National Convention and the Sept. 10 ABC News presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump. —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2024

The Portland Fire Investigations Unit is investigating. MORE: 2024 election updates About a half hour later, around 4 a.m. local time, officers in Vancouver, Washington, responded to a report of a ballot box that was smoking and on fire, police said. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Just a half hour earlier, Brewers fans will also be on the road heading to American Family Field as the club faces the New York Mets in the National League wild-card series. —Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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