half step
noun
1
: a walking step of 15 inches or in double time of 18 inches
2
: a musical interval (such as E-F or B-C) equivalent to ¹/₁₂ of an octave
called also semitone
Examples of half step in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At multiple points in the sequence, U.S. players were a few inches or a half step away from snuffing out the counterattack.
—
Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On both occasions Saturday night, a recipient got a foot to the ball but was a half step too late.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Its layout doesn’t follow a regular chromatic scale, so a half step between notes can necessitate a giant leap across the instrument.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Colts–Broncos was similarly uneventful except for Jonathan Taylor dropping the ball a half step before walking into the end zone on a long run.
—Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for half step
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Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On both occasions Saturday night, a recipient got a foot to the ball but was a half step too late.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Its layout doesn’t follow a regular chromatic scale, so a half step between notes can necessitate a giant leap across the instrument.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Colts–Broncos was similarly uneventful except for Jonathan Taylor dropping the ball a half step before walking into the end zone on a long run.
—Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for half step
Cite this Entry
“Half step.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20step. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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