substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial
səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 
1
2
: ample to satisfy and nourish : full
a substantial meal
3
a
: possessed of means : well-to-do
b
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
earned a substantial wage
4
: firmly constructed : sturdy
a substantial house
5
: being largely but not wholly that which is specified
a substantial lie
substantial
noun
Examples of substantial in a Sentence
A substantial number of people commute to work each day.
Activities like that pose a substantial risk of injury.
She purchased her tickets at a substantial discount.
Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake.
I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.
Recent Examples on the Web
This indicates substantial price swings during these periods.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
In the February meeting, however, Clinton’s top economic advisers, including Bob Rubin, the then head of the National Economic Council, and Lloyd Bentsen, the Treasury Secretary at the time, were advocating substantial cuts in the budget.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The goal is for students to build a device using bubble wrap, straws, or various other materials designed to hold an egg and keep it intact after being dropped from a substantial height—say, ten meters (nearly 33 feet).
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2025
While San Francisco hogs headlines on homelessness and crime, its southern neighbor, San Jose, has been quietly making bold moves — and seeing substantial results.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantial
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
In the February meeting, however, Clinton’s top economic advisers, including Bob Rubin, the then head of the National Economic Council, and Lloyd Bentsen, the Treasury Secretary at the time, were advocating substantial cuts in the budget.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The goal is for students to build a device using bubble wrap, straws, or various other materials designed to hold an egg and keep it intact after being dropped from a substantial height—say, ten meters (nearly 33 feet).
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2025
While San Francisco hogs headlines on homelessness and crime, its southern neighbor, San Jose, has been quietly making bold moves — and seeing substantial results.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substantial. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial
səb-ˈstan-chəl
1
a
: consisting of or relating to substance : material
b
: not imaginary : real
the substantial world
c
: important sense 1, essential
substantial differences
2
: enough to satisfy and nourish
a substantial meal
3
a
: prosperous sense 1
a substantial farmer
b
: considerable in quantity : significantly large
a substantial increase
4
: firmly constructed
a substantial building
Legal Definition
substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial
səb-ˈstan-chəl
1
a
: of or relating to substance
b
: not illusory : having merit
failed to raise a substantial constitutional claim
c
: having importance or significance : material
a substantial step had not been taken toward commission of the crime—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.2
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
identification of serious and substantial failure to perform—U.S. Code
compare de minimis
U.S. Code
substantially
adverb
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