first-half

Before the intermission

First-half describes something belonging to or occurring in the initial portion of a divided period—typically a game, year, or other timespan split into two parts: first-half profits exceeded expectations, a first-half touchdown.

The hyphenated form functions as an adjective before nouns; without the hyphen, it's a noun phrase: The first half was slow.

temporal

beginning

Initial stage of something

openingGap or start
startTo set going
earlyOccurring before expected

initial · lead-up · preliminary · introductory · preamble · prelude · front-end · onset · outset · commencement

narrative

setup

How something is arranged

expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
introductionPreliminary section or presentation
prologueIntroductory literary section

foreshadowing · backstory · establishing · world-building · premise · hook · buildup · groundwork

sports

halftime

Midpoint break in games

possessionState of owning
scoreboardGame progress display
leadDense metal, symbol Pb

deficit · momentum · strategy · timeout · substitutions · fouls · penalties · offense · defense · coach

partial

incomplete

Lacking necessary parts

unfinishedNot yet complete
partialFavoring one side
truncatedCut off abruptly

bisected · divided · split · segmented · sectioned · portioned · fragmented · interrupted · midway · halfway

Opposites

temporal/sequential position

first-halfsecond-half

Final game segment

second half · endgame · finale · fourth quarter · second period

completeness/progression

first-halffinale

Concluding part of performance

conclusion · denouement · ending · climax · second-act

Family

first, half, firsts, firstly, halves, halved, halving

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G