B1adverblanguage
US/hæf/
UK/hɑːf/
partly; not completely
More often (noun): one of two equal parts of something
In context
I was still half asleep when my mum called to wish me happy birthday.
The glass is half empty, but some people would say it's half full.
I'm only half joking when I say I want to quit my job and open a café.
Words that go with half
adverb + adjective
- half asleepHe answered the phone half asleep and forgot the message.
- half emptyThe cinema was half empty on a Monday night.
- half fullOnly fill the pot half full, or the soup will boil over.
- half finishedThere's a half finished essay on my desk.
adverb + verb
- half expectI half expect him to cancel again at the last minute.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
I was half of asleep in the meeting.Correct: I was half asleep in the meeting.