halved

IPA/hɑːv/
KK[hˈævd]IPA/hæv/

halved — verb

  • halvedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • halveds3rd person singular
  • halveding-ing form
  • halvededpast simple

1. to decrease the size, amount, or number of something so that it becomes one half

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to decrease the size, amount, or number of something so that it becomes one half of its original value; or to separate something into two pieces of exactly the same size — like cutting a pizza in half or splitting a sum of money between two people.

例句

The factory halved its water usage by fixing the old pipes.

halve + resource/usage noun

Abigail halved the orange and handed one piece to each child in the playground.

halve + fruit/object for splitting

同義詞
  • cut in half

    more informal, often used for physical objects

  • reduce by half

    more explicit about quantity reduction; common in business contexts

  • split

    broader meaning; not necessarily exactly 50%

反義詞
  • double

    increase to twice the size or amount

文法句型

halve + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is typically a measure of size, amount, time, or cost — or a physical object that can be split equally. This sense is always transitive; the agent doing the halving must appear in the sentence.

常見錯誤

❌She halfed the cake before serving it.
✅She halved the cake before serving it.
💡'Half' is a noun or adjective, not a verb; the verb form is 'halve'.

2. to become 50 percent smaller in size, amount, or number without being actively r

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to become 50 percent smaller in size, amount, or number without being actively reduced by someone — for example, when sales, population, or prices decrease by half on their own.

例句

Electricity costs in the region halved after the solar farm opened.

cost/price + halve (intransitive)

The number of students in the class halved when the school moved to a new building.

同義詞
反義詞
  • double

    increase to twice the original amount

文法句型

noun phrase + halve (no object)

用法筆記

Subject must be the thing that becomes smaller — do not add a direct object. This sense describes a process or natural change, not an active reduction done by someone.

常見錯誤

❌The company halved its workforce.' (intended: became smaller by half)
✅The company's workforce halved.
💡Use the intransitive form when the thing itself shrinks; the transitive form requires an object that is reduced.

3. in golf, to finish any single hole or a full round of play with each side taking

3.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

in golf, to finish any single hole or a full round of play with each side taking an equal number of swings, leading to a tie with no winner declared.

例句

Arjun halved the match with his opponent when the final round ended in a tie.

The two players halved the 18th hole after both took exactly three putts on the green.

halve + hole (golf context)

同義詞
  • tie

    general sports term; less specific to golf

  • draw

    common in British English for tied matches in various sports

反義詞
  • win

    finish with fewer strokes than the opponent

  • lose

    finish with more strokes than the opponent

文法句型

halve + hole/match/round

halve (no object in golf)

用法筆記

Only used in golf scoring. The direct object can be 'a hole', 'a round', or 'a match'. In informal golf contexts, players may also say 'we halved' without an object, meaning they tied on a hole.

常見錯誤

❌They halved the score in the final minute.' (sounds like soccer)
✅They halved the 18th hole in the golf match.
💡Outside golf, the sporting sense does not apply.