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

Thus began my lifelong affiliation with dogs, which continues to this day in the person of Charley, paradoxically named not for me but for a previous Charley dog who showed up halfway down a lineage of canine hereditary succession. —Charles Hammer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025

And Spencer is still halfway around the world, shoveling coal on a merchant ship. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 23 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Indiana lawmakers are on break this week, having made it to the halfway point of the legislative session. —Arika Herron, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025

Last year, Young played outdoor venues all across North America with his longtime band Crazy Horse, but the tour was called off at the halfway point. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 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

Rhymes for halfway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

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