halftime

halftime — adjective

  • halftimepositive
  • more halftimecomparative
  • most halftimesuperlative

1. describes a job or position in which a person works half the usual weekly hours,

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a job or position in which a person works half the usual weekly hours, often because they are studying, caring for family, or prefer a lighter schedule.

Example

Darius found a halftime position at a local bookstore while finishing his degree.

adjective modifier: halftime + position

The school district hired several halftime teachers to handle the growing number of students.

Common collocations
  • halftime job
  • halftime position
  • halftime employee
  • halftime work
  • halftime staff
Synonyms
  • part-time

    far more common in everyday English; 'halftime' sounds more formal or official

  • half-day

    narrower — refers to a single day's schedule rather than a recurring arrangement

Antonyms
  • full-time

    involving the standard number of working hours per week

Grammar Patterns

halftime + noun

Usage Note

This adjective is less common than the synonym 'part-time'. It appears most often in official job descriptions, contracts, and HR policies rather than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

I work halftime at the office.
I have a halftime job at the office.
'halftime' is an adjective, not an adverb; use it to modify a noun, not to describe how you work.

halftime — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Halftime refers specifically to the scheduled rest between the two halves of a team sport like football or basketball. Interval is the preferred British English term for the same sports break, but it also covers theatre and concert pauses. Intermission belongs mainly to performances — plays, films, concerts — not sports. Break is the most general word: any pause in any activity, from a work meeting to a tennis match. For example: 'The band played during the Super Bowl halftime show' (only halftime fits). 'We went for coffee during the interval at the opera' (interval, not halftime). 'She took a short break between meetings' (break, not any of the others).

halftime ↗interval ↗intermission ↗break ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • halftime show
  • halftime break
  • halftime score
  • halftime whistle
  • halftime entertainment

Phrases

  • at the halftime mark
  • lead at halftime
  • halftime adjustment

Prepositions

  • at halftime
  • during halftime
  • until halftime
  • after halftime

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Halftime is a compound of 'half' (from Old English 'healf', meaning one of two equal parts) and 'time' (from Old English 'tīma', meaning a period). The sports-related noun meaning 'break between halves' appeared in the late 19th century as modern team sports such as football and basketball developed formal rules with scheduled rest periods. The adjective sense describing employment at half the standard hours emerged in the late 20th century, modelled on the earlier 'part-time'.