Meaning & use
first half
Last updated
Meanings
nounsingularsport
The first of two equal periods into which a game or other timed event is divided.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': the first half. The plural is 'first halves'.
Patterns
- in the first half
- during the first half
- the first half of the game
Our team scored twice in the first half.
He was injured near the end of the first half.
The first half was slow, but the second half was exciting.
nounsingular
The earlier of two parts of a period of time, such as a year or a century.
Grammar: Often followed by 'of': the first half of the year.
Patterns
- the first half of something
- in the first half of the year
Sales were strong in the first half of the year.
The first half of the book is more interesting than the second.
She spent the first half of her career abroad.
adjectivebefore a nounsport
Happening or scored during the first of two periods of a game.
Grammar: Used before a noun, often hyphenated: a first-half goal.
Patterns
- a first-half goal
- first-half performance
He scored a first-half goal in the tenth minute.
Their first-half performance was much better than their second-half play.
Word forms
| plural | first halves |
|---|
Common combinations
- in the first half
- They led by two goals in the first half.
- the first half of the year
- Profits rose in the first half of the year.
- a first-half goal
- She scored a first-half goal from close range.
- the first half of the book
- The first half of the book describes his childhood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opening half
- A less common sports term that means the same period but is used mostly in commentary.
Opposites
Commonly confused: first half or half first?
first half vs half first
This is not a standard phrase; the correct order is 'first half'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'In the first half' is the fixed expression with the definite article. 'In first half' is missing 'the', and 'at' is not used with halves of a game.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “first half”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.