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
However, being able to order items off the unofficial menu is just a matter of who is behind the counter, the manager said at the time.
—
Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 May 2025
In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 7 million views and more than 1.4 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Yields on the 10-year spiked from sub-4% to 4.5% in a matter of days at the height of the trade war tantrum.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
After a rocky 2023 season during which he was traded, designated for assignment and picked up off waivers, playing for three teams in a matter of months, Giolito found his footing at the very end with the Cleveland Guardians.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 May 2025
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Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 May 2025
In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 7 million views and more than 1.4 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Yields on the 10-year spiked from sub-4% to 4.5% in a matter of days at the height of the trade war tantrum.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
After a rocky 2023 season during which he was traded, designated for assignment and picked up off waivers, playing for three teams in a matter of months, Giolito found his footing at the very end with the Cleveland Guardians.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 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 8 May. 2025.
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