by half

B b

Definitions of by half words

phrase by half If you increase something by half, half of the original amount is added to it. If you decrease it by half, half of the original amount is taken away from it. 3
noun by half by an excessive amount or to an excessive degree 3
noun by half considerably; very much 3
noun plural by half one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole, as an object, or unit of measure or time; a part of a whole equal or almost equal to the remainder. 1
noun plural by half a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½). 1
noun plural by half Sports. either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them. Compare quarter (def 10). 1

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English; Old English h(e)alf; cognate with German Halb, Old Norse halfr, Gothic halbs

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer