halfway

1 of 2

adverb

half·​way ˈhaf-ˈwā 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• deficient
• fragmental
• fragmentary
• half
• incomplete
• partial

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

When Arnall pressed, Koskinen got halfway up the mast before stopping and retreating back down to the deck. —David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

Step 3: Place your plant in soil Take a tea bag or similarly sized porous mesh bag and fill it halfway with akadama, also known as bonsai soil. —Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Darnell Nurse — 84 The veteran got a late start to the preseason and looked behind for a time, but has been playing some of the best hockey through the halfway point of the schedule. —Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

Once enough people have donated enough money to reach the halfway point of an individual fundraiser's target, Damon and Bell will pay in the rest to get them over the line. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing halfway

• halfway around/across the world
• halfway decent
• halfway house
• halfway through
• meet halfway

Kids Definition

halfway

adjective

half·​way -ˈwā 

1

: midway between two points

stop at the halfway mark

2

: partial sense 3

halfway measures

halfway adverb