halve

verb

ˈhav How to pronounce halve (audio)
ˈhäv
halved; halving
Synonyms of halvenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to divide into two equal parts
b
: to reduce to one half
halving the present cost
c
: to share equally
2
golf : to play (a hole, round, or match) in the same number of strokes as one's opponent
I lost the next two holes to pars, then halved the fourth by missing an easy putt.—David Owen

Examples of halve in a Sentence

The store is halving the price of many summer items.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Taking half of a population, for example, does not necessarily mean halving its impact on the ecosystem. — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Foreign ownership of Indonesian stocks has declined to 25% in October from 27% in January, while the value of foreign holdings has nearly halved to approximately $130 billion from $250 billion, the bank said. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 To get a head start, trim and halve the sprouts up to a day ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container. — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 Having won Beijing’s agreement to halve hybrid vehicle imports, Brussels is now eyeing checks on Chinese chemicals and machinery, Politico reported. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for halve

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from half half

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of halve was in the 13th century

Rhymes for halve

See All Rhymes for halve

Browse Nearby Words

halvah
halve
halvers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Halve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halve. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

halve

verb
ˈhav How to pronounce halve (audio)
ˈhȧv
halved; halving
1
: to divide into two halves
2
: to reduce to one half
halving the cost

More from Merriam-Webster on halve

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