a matter of
idiom
1
—used to refer to a small amount
It cooks in a matter of (a few) minutes.
The crisis was resolved in a matter of a few hours.
The ball was foul by a matter of inches.
2
—used to say that one thing results from or requires another
Learning to ride a bicycle is a matter of practice.
His success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
It's only a matter of time before/until we catch him.
3
—used to explain the reason for something
She insists on honesty as a matter of principle.
All requests for free tickets are turned down as a matter of policy.
Examples of a matter of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That was the start of a major lifestyle change for Donaldson, who within a matter of months was selling platters of food out of her kitchen at all hours of the day, starting with the morning breakfast crowd and ending with hungry late-night customers.
—
Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025
The quake is a matter of if, not when, said Tina Dura, a geologist and professor of natural hazards at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Relations had long been stymied over China’s insistence on its exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican insisted on the pope’s exclusive right to name the successors of the original Apostles.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
In a matter of hours, what was once just a lone railroad station and three buildings was suddenly home to thousands of people.
—Anne Roderique-Jones, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
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Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025
The quake is a matter of if, not when, said Tina Dura, a geologist and professor of natural hazards at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Relations had long been stymied over China’s insistence on its exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican insisted on the pope’s exclusive right to name the successors of the original Apostles.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
In a matter of hours, what was once just a lone railroad station and three buildings was suddenly home to thousands of people.
—Anne Roderique-Jones, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for a matter of
Cite this Entry
“A matter of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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