Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short break or intermission between two halves of a game, especially in sports like football or basketball: "half-time" refers to the scheduled interval at the midpoint of a game.
   • A reduced work schedule, typically half of the standard full-time hours: "half-time" can describe a position or employment status involving 50% of the usual working hours.

2. Adjective:

   • Involving or working half of the standard or customary time: "half-time" describes an activity, job, or training conducted for half the normal duration.

3. Adverb:

   • For half of the standard time; on a part-time basis: "half-time" modifies a verb to indicate an action is performed for half the usual hours.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Sports): The coach gave a motivational speech during half-time. The score was tied 1-1 at half-time.

• Noun (Employment): She switched to a half-time position after having a baby. The university offers several half-time research fellowships.

• Adjective: He is enrolled in a half-time graduate program. The company provides half-time benefits to eligible employees.

• Adverb: She works half-time while completing her studies. The role is currently staffed half-time.

Advanced Usage

• "half-time show": a performance, often involving music or entertainment, that takes place during the half-time break of a major sporting event, especially in American football. The Super Bowl half-time show is a major cultural event.

• "half-time/full-time": a common format for reporting sports scores, indicating the score at the interval and the final score. The result was Arsenal 2 (half-time 0), Manchester United 1 (half-time 1).

Variants and Related Words

• Part-time (adj/adv): for only a part of the usual working day or week. While similar, "part-time" is a broader term that can mean any fraction of full-time hours, not strictly 50%.
• Full-time (adj/adv): for the entire usual working day or week; the opposite of half-time.

Synonyms

• Intermission (noun, for sports context): a pause or break.
• Part-time (adj/adv, for work context): for less than the standard number of hours.

Related Phrases

• At half-time: during the half-time interval.
• Go half-time: to reduce one's work schedule to half-time.

Adjective

1. involving half the standard or customary time for an activity
   • he had two years of half-time training

Adverb

1. for less than the standard number of hours
   • he works part-time