1 mat·ter
Pronounced:
/ˈmætɚ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural mat·tersMeaning:
1 [count] : something that is being done, talked about, or thought about ▪ He has a few personal matters to deal with. ▪ Disagreement is one thing, but accusations of lying are a different matter altogether! ▪ Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention. [=for telling us about this problem or issue] ▪ That's a matter for a jury (to decide). ▪ The schedule is a matter of some concern. [=is something that we are worried about] ▪ It's no easy/simple matter [=it's not easy] to find a decent place to live in this city. ▪ This is no joking/laughing matter. = This is a serious matter. ▪ Getting the money to finance a project like this is no small matter. [=is not an easy thing to do] —often used in an ironic way to refer to a difficult or important situation or problem ▪ He wants to buy a new car, but first there's the little/small matter of getting enough money to pay for it. [=he can't buy a new car until he has enough money to pay for it]
2 matters [plural] : the situation or subject that is being discussed or dealt with ▪ Let's not allow matters [=things] to get out of control. ▪ She's an expert in legal/financial/money matters. = (formal) She's an expert in matters legal/financial. ▪ It's best not to interfere in matters [=affairs] of the heart. ▪ It didn't exactly help matters [=it didn't make the situation better] when he accused her of lying! ▪ He laughed at her and then, to make matters worse, he accused her of lying! [=it made the situation worse when he accused her of lying] ▪ To (further) complicate matters, they both have the same name. = To complicate matters further, they both have the same name. [=the situation is more complicated because they both have the same name] ▪ After months of waiting for something to happen, he decided to take matters into his own hands. [=to do something himself instead of waiting for other people to do something]
3 [noncount] a physics : the thing that forms physical objects and occupies space ▪ Can matter and energy be changed into each other? b : material of a particular kind ▪ vegetable matter ▪ organic/waste matter ▪ printed/reading matter [=books, magazines, newspapers, etc.] —see also back matter, front matter, gray matter, subject matter
4 the matter —used to ask if there is a problem or to say that there is or is not a problem ▪ What's the matter? [=what's the problem?; what's wrong?] ▪ “Is anything the matter?” [=is anything wrong?; is there a problem?] “No, nothing's the matter.” —often + with ▪ Nothing's the matter with me. I'm fine. ▪ There's something the matter with the car. [=there's something wrong with the car; there's a problem with the car]
2 matters [plural] : the situation or subject that is being discussed or dealt with ▪ Let's not allow matters [=things] to get out of control. ▪ She's an expert in legal/financial/money matters. = (formal) She's an expert in matters legal/financial. ▪ It's best not to interfere in matters [=affairs] of the heart. ▪ It didn't exactly help matters [=it didn't make the situation better] when he accused her of lying! ▪ He laughed at her and then, to make matters worse, he accused her of lying! [=it made the situation worse when he accused her of lying] ▪ To (further) complicate matters, they both have the same name. = To complicate matters further, they both have the same name. [=the situation is more complicated because they both have the same name] ▪ After months of waiting for something to happen, he decided to take matters into his own hands. [=to do something himself instead of waiting for other people to do something]
3 [noncount] a physics : the thing that forms physical objects and occupies space ▪ Can matter and energy be changed into each other? b : material of a particular kind ▪ vegetable matter ▪ organic/waste matter ▪ printed/reading matter [=books, magazines, newspapers, etc.] —see also back matter, front matter, gray matter, subject matter
4 the matter —used to ask if there is a problem or to say that there is or is not a problem ▪ What's the matter? [=what's the problem?; what's wrong?] ▪ “Is anything the matter?” [=is anything wrong?; is there a problem?] “No, nothing's the matter.” —often + with ▪ Nothing's the matter with me. I'm fine. ▪ There's something the matter with the car. [=there's something wrong with the car; there's a problem with the car]
usage The question “What's the matter?” is usually asked in a friendly way. ▪ You look sad. What's the matter? [=what's wrong?] The question “What's the matter with you?” is usually asked in an unfriendly way by someone who is annoyed or angry. ▪ You keep making stupid mistakes. What's the matter with you? [=what's wrong with you?; why do you keep making stupid mistakes?]
a matter of
1 —used to refer to a small amount ▪ It cooks in a matter of (a few) minutes. [=it cooks in just a few minutes] ▪ They quarreled over a matter of a mere couple of dollars. ▪ 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. [=learning to ride a bicycle requires practice] ▪ His success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. [=he succeeded because he was in the right place at the right time] ▪ It's only a matter of time before/until we catch him. [=we will catch him eventually]
3 —used to explain the reason for something ▪ She insists on honesty as a matter of principle. [=because she believes that honesty is morally right] ▪ All requests for free tickets are turned down as a matter of policy. [=because our policy requires it; because we have decided that that is what we should always do]
4 —used to say that something is based on opinion, taste, etc. ▪ “He's doing a terrible job.” “That's a matter of opinion.” [=that's not a definite fact; that's something that people have different opinions about] ▪ Some people like seafood and some people don't. It's all just a matter of taste. [=it is something that is based on personal taste] ▪ Her plans for the election are still a matter of conjecture. [=people are not sure about her plans for the election]
5 —used to say that something is important, interesting, etc. ▪ The outcome of the trial is a matter of interest to many people. [=many people are interested in the outcome of the trial] ▪ Resolving this problem quickly is a matter of (some) urgency/importance. [=it is urgent/important to resolve this problem quickly] ▪ I'd like to know how much it costs, just as a matter of interest. [=because I am interested in knowing even though I do not need to know]
2 —used to say that one thing results from or requires another ▪ Learning to ride a bicycle is a matter of practice. [=learning to ride a bicycle requires practice] ▪ His success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. [=he succeeded because he was in the right place at the right time] ▪ It's only a matter of time before/until we catch him. [=we will catch him eventually]
3 —used to explain the reason for something ▪ She insists on honesty as a matter of principle. [=because she believes that honesty is morally right] ▪ All requests for free tickets are turned down as a matter of policy. [=because our policy requires it; because we have decided that that is what we should always do]
4 —used to say that something is based on opinion, taste, etc. ▪ “He's doing a terrible job.” “That's a matter of opinion.” [=that's not a definite fact; that's something that people have different opinions about] ▪ Some people like seafood and some people don't. It's all just a matter of taste. [=it is something that is based on personal taste] ▪ Her plans for the election are still a matter of conjecture. [=people are not sure about her plans for the election]
5 —used to say that something is important, interesting, etc. ▪ The outcome of the trial is a matter of interest to many people. [=many people are interested in the outcome of the trial] ▪ Resolving this problem quickly is a matter of (some) urgency/importance. [=it is urgent/important to resolve this problem quickly] ▪ I'd like to know how much it costs, just as a matter of interest. [=because I am interested in knowing even though I do not need to know]
a matter of debate —see 1debate
a matter of life and death —see 1life
a matter of record
: something that is known because it has been publicly said or reported in the past ▪ His opposition to the plan is a matter of record.
as a matter of course
—used to say that something will or should happen because it is natural, usual, or logical ▪ You should take proper precautions as a matter of course. [=as part of your usual routine] ▪ We went out to dinner on her birthday, and as a matter of course [=of course, naturally] we paid for her meal.
as a matter of fact —see fact
for that matter
—used with a statement that adds to a previous statement ▪ I haven't seen him for years—or her either, for that matter. [=I also haven't seen her for years]
mind over matter —see 1mind
no matter
1 informal —used to say that something is not important ▪ “I may be delayed for a few minutes.” “No matter. [=it doesn't matter] We still have plenty of time.”
2 —used with what, how, when, etc., to say that something does not, will not, or should not affect something else ▪ I'm going to do it, no matter what you say. = No matter what you say, I'm going to do it. [=nothing you say will stop me from doing it] ▪ He intends to buy that car no matter how much it costs. ▪ Everyone is welcome here, no matter where they come from. ▪ He wants to win, no matter what. [=he wants to win so much that he will do anything to win] —see also no matter how you slice it at 2slice
2 —used with what, how, when, etc., to say that something does not, will not, or should not affect something else ▪ I'm going to do it, no matter what you say. = No matter what you say, I'm going to do it. [=nothing you say will stop me from doing it] ▪ He intends to buy that car no matter how much it costs. ▪ Everyone is welcome here, no matter where they come from. ▪ He wants to win, no matter what. [=he wants to win so much that he will do anything to win] —see also no matter how you slice it at 2slice
the fact of the matter is
—used to emphasize a statement that follows ▪ She thinks she knows what she's talking about, but the fact of the matter is, she's wrong. ▪ The budget is very tight this year. The fact of the matter is, we may have to lay off a few employees.
the truth of the matter
—used to stress the truth of a statement ▪ We may have to lay off a few employees this year. That's the truth of the matter. [=that's the truth] ▪ The truth of the matter is, she was wrong and he was right.