How to Use half-mast in a Sentence

half-mast

1 of 2 noun
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The term half-staff is used for flags on land, while half-mast refers to flags on ships.
    — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Dec. 2025
  • The term half-staff is used for flags on land, while half-mast refers to flags on ships.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Flags were already set to be at half-mast on Thursday.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The American flag was at half-mast.
    — Karan Mahajan, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
  • Pritzker ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in his honor.
    — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Flags are flown at half-mast on nautical vessels, such as a naval ship.
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The flags at the school are being flown at half-mast following their deaths.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2026
  • What is the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
  • What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
    — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
  • What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
    — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 25 May 2026
  • Within moments, her long neck drooped and her eyelids fluttered at half-mast.
    — Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Here's what to know about the difference between half-mast and half-staff and why flags are flown at half-staff.
    — Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Here's what to know about the difference between half-mast and half-staff and why flags are flown at half-staff.
    — Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Carney ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the next week.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The term half-staff - also known as half-mast - refers to flying a flag partway down a flagpole or ship's mast.
    — Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Here's what to know about the difference between half-mast and half-staff and more details on why flags are flown at half-staff.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 4 Dec. 2025
  • Flags at Harry Collinge High School are being flown at half-mast.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Flags around the city are flying at half-mast to mark three days of national mourning announced by the monarchy.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Sep. 2023
  • Flags across the country will fly at half-mast on Sunday on a national day of reflection.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
  • Some states and local entities may choose to fly flags at half-staff and half-mast without a federal mandate.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026
  • In San Diego flags were lowered to half-mast as residents expressed their sadness and grief.
    — Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the Manitoba legislature.
    — Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2023
  • The Spanish flag was flown at half-mast in front of Parliament in Madrid for the victims on Monday.
    — Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
  • The governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across Minnesota on Monday in honor of the victims.
    — Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024
  • The President publicly mourned Charlie Kirk’s death, ordering flags to fly at half-mast.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 24 Feb. 2026

half-mast

2 of 2 verb
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
  • For ships and naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast.
    — Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The term half-staff is used for flags on land, while half-mast refers to flags on ships.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Pritzker ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in his honor.
    — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Though her own enthusiasm is half-mast at best.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Here's when flags are lowered and the difference between half-mast and half-staff.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Here's when flags are lowered and the difference between half-mast and half-staff.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Carney ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the next week.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Some states and local entities may choose to fly flags at half-staff and half-mast without a federal mandate.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Casa Cuba has declared a period of mourning and lowered its flags to half-mast.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The Spanish flag was flown at half-mast in front of Parliament in Madrid for the victims on Monday.
    — Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
  • The President publicly mourned Charlie Kirk’s death, ordering flags to fly at half-mast.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Later, Carney ordered the Canadian flags be flown at half-mast on all government buildings for seven days.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
  • However, the palace still maintained a few traditions — including lowering some flags to half-mast across the country during the period of mourning.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Flags flew at half-mast on public buildings, television anchors wore black, and cabinet ministers curtailed public appearances as Spain observed the first of three days of national mourning.
    — CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half-mast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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