halfheartedly

Halfheartedly is an adverb describing the performance of an action with little enthusiasm, energy, or sincere conviction. When someone does something halfheartedly, they invest only minimal effort or commitment, often going through the motions rather than fully engaging. The term carries a generally negative or critical connotation, implying a lack of genuine belief or interest.

Etymology and form: the adverb derives from the compound adjective half-hearted, which combines half (partial) with heart, used metaphorically to denote sincerity or enthusiasm. The adjective half-hearted has been in use since at least the early modern period, and halfheartedly follows standard English adverb formation by adding -ly. The root sense remains that the action is not performed with full effort or conviction.

Usage and nuance: halfheartedly is common in descriptive writing, journalism, and everyday speech to convey reluctance, wavering commitment, or perfunctory effort. It contrasts with wholehearted or enthusiastically, and with more neutral descriptions of effort. Typical collocations include “perform something halfheartedly,” “agree halfheartedly,” and “make a halfhearted attempt.” While often negative, the term can occasionally appear in milder or humorous contexts to acknowledge a lack of zeal without strong judgment.

See also: half-hearted, wholehearted, perfunctory.