half-heartedly
half-heartedly — adverb
1. doing something with so little energy or genuine interest that it is clear your
doing something with so little energy or genuine interest that it is clear your mind or heart is not in it — for example, clapping without real enthusiasm after a speech, or tidying a room without actually caring if it gets clean.
Mei-Lin half-heartedly pushed her lunch around the plate, too worried to eat.
half-heartedly + pushed — verb for an action done without energy
The audience clapped half-heartedly as the losing team left the field.
clapped half-heartedly — end-position adverb showing weak reaction
Elena half-heartedly agreed to join the hiking trip, though she secretly wanted to stay home.
- reluctantly
Focuses on unwillingness rather than mere lack of energy
- apathetically
More formal; suggests a complete lack of interest or emotion
- listlessly
Describes a tired, weak manner, often from illness or exhaustion
- enthusiastically
With great energy and positive interest
- eagerly
With strong desire and readiness
文法句型
half-heartedly + verb
verb + half-heartedly
用法筆記
Often modifies verbs of physical action (push, wave, try, clap, nod, smile) or verbs of agreement (agree, accept, promise). The adverb normally appears between the subject and the verb, though end-position (after the verb) is also natural.
常見錯誤
half-heartedly — adjective
1. done with so little effort or care that it reveals a lack of real interest, comm
done with so little effort or care that it reveals a lack of real interest, commitment, or emotional investment — for example, giving a speech you did not prepare for, or looking for a job you do not actually want.
Omar made a half-hearted attempt to study for the exam and failed.
half-hearted + attempt — common collocation for an effort that is too weak
Priyanka's half-hearted apology on the phone only made her sister more upset.
half-hearted + apology — describes words that lack sincerity
- unenthusiastic
More direct; describes a person or action without the idiomatic restriction
- lukewarm
Often describes reactions or support that are only mildly positive
- perfunctory
Formal; done as a routine duty without care or interest
- wholehearted
Complete and sincere in effort or feeling
- thorough
Done with full attention to every detail
文法句型
half-hearted + noun
be + half-hearted
用法筆記
Most commonly used attributively (before a noun) with nouns that describe effort: attempt, try, effort, apology, search, smile, nod, wave. Can also follow a linking verb ('His apology was half-hearted'), but this is less frequent. The adjective cannot describe people directly — ❌ 'a half-hearted person' is not idiomatic; use 'unenthusiastic' or 'indifferent' instead.