Definition of half the

Short definition: The phrase half the is used before a noun to talk about one of two equal parts of something specific, often helping speakers describe quantity clearly and naturally without needing exact numbers or complex explanations.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrase half the? The phrase half the is commonly used in English to talk about quantity and proportion. It refers to exactly one of two equal parts of a specific group or amount. You will often see it used before nouns in descriptions, explanations, and everyday conversation. It helps speakers be precise when comparing amounts or emphasizing how much is missing or remaining. Below, the meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, with enough detail to feel clear, human, and practical.

half the det. /hæf ðə/

Forms: half the
Related: half det., the det., part n.
Syllable: half the

(Determiner) Used before a noun to mean one of two equal parts of a specific group or amount.
Half the is used to refer to exactly fifty percent of a known and specific set of things or people, making it clear that the speaker is talking about a precise portion rather than a vague or approximate amount, and it often appears when comparing quantities or emphasizing loss, division, or reduction.

Half the class missed the lecture because the schedule was changed at the last minute without clear notice.

She spent half the day organizing files and answering messages before she could focus on real work.

Half the budget was already used before the project even reached its final stage.

Synonyms: fifty percent of, one half of, half of the total, one of two equal parts, divided portion, equal share, half portion, half amount, half part, fifty percent portion, one equal half, half share
Antonyms: all the, the whole, the entire amount, full set, complete total, one hundred percent, everything, entire group, full amount, total share, whole portion, complete set

Conversation Using the Phrase Half the

The following conversation takes place between two coworkers discussing progress on a project. It shows how the determiner phrase half the is used naturally to talk about amounts, effort, and shared understanding in everyday English.

Laura: How is the presentation coming along?

Mark: Pretty well, I would say half the work is already done.

Laura: That is good to hear, the planning stage is usually half the challenge.

Mark: Exactly, once the structure is clear, half the stress disappears.

Laura: Do you think we need more time?

Mark: Maybe a little, but half the team has already given useful feedback.

Laura: Sounds like we are on the right track.

Mark: Yes, understanding the goal was half the success.

Phrases Containing the Expression Half the

The phrases below show how half the is commonly used as a determiner to describe amounts, groups, time, and situations in everyday English.

Half the time

In many situations or frequently.

Half the time, he worries about things that never actually happen, but the habit is hard to break.

Half the people

Fifty percent of a group.

Half the people in the audience stayed until the end because the discussion was more interesting than expected.

Half the day

A large part of the day.

She spent half the day preparing notes and organizing her thoughts before the meeting.

Half the work

A significant portion of tasks.

Once the plan was clear, half the work felt easier because everyone knew their role.

Half the reason

A major cause.

Half the reason he succeeded was his ability to stay calm under pressure.

Half the problem

A major difficulty.

Half the problem was poor communication, not lack of skill or effort.

Half the story

Incomplete information.

What you heard is only half the story, and the full context changes everything.

Half the budget

Fifty percent of available funds.

Half the budget was spent on research before any final decisions were made.

Half the effort

Reduced energy or work.

With better tools, he completed the task with half the effort it used to require.

Half the distance

Midway point.

They stopped for water after reaching half the distance of the long hike.

Half the class

Fifty percent of students.

Half the class struggled at first, but the concept became clearer after more examples.

Half the truth

Partial honesty.

He told half the truth to avoid conflict, but it eventually caused confusion.

Half the cost

Reduced price.

Buying in bulk cut the price to half the cost compared to individual items.

Half the answer

Partial solution.

Knowing the data is half the answer; understanding it is the other half.

Half the effort required

Much easier task.

The new system reduced delays and needed only half the effort required before.

Half the risk

Lower danger.

Planning ahead cut mistakes and reduced half the risk of failure.

Half the night

A long period at night.

They talked for half the night about future plans and old memories.

Half the fun

Main enjoyment.

For her, half the fun of traveling is meeting new people along the way.

Half the challenge

Major difficulty.

Staying motivated was half the challenge during the long project.

Half the decision

Important part of choosing.

Understanding the consequences is half the decision when making a serious choice.

Words Rhyme with half the

see

free

tree

three

degree

agree

decree

debris

coffee

toffee

trophy

guarantee

referee

absentee

devotee

committee

jubilee

recipe

simile

apogee

pedigree

under the

over the

near the

after the

into the

under tree

wild and free

wait and see

POS: Determiner