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.
The balanced model, Terra, halves that price, while the low-cost model, Luna, drops further to $1 for input and $6 for output. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Infrastructure spending has also halved in real terms, leading to widespread water leaks and potholed roads. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Steel and aluminum have been facing 50% duties, and officials reportedly were considering halving them. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Just one month ago, the ATP released a proposal to drastically cut prize money and halve the size of draws for doubles by 2028. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for halve

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