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
In a matter of months, Sheinbaum went from overseeing a district of fewer than seven hundred thousand people to governing a city of nearly ten million.
—
Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
In a matter of months, the federal government has exerted unprecedented pressure on institutions, pausing or outright canceling billions in funding while pushing schools to overhaul their admissions, hiring and teaching practices.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The issue with this is more than just a matter of hurt feelings.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Downy’s wrinkle spray works in a matter of seconds: Just lay your clothing flat, spritz it with wrinkle release spray, and use your hands to smooth the material out.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a matter of
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Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
In a matter of months, the federal government has exerted unprecedented pressure on institutions, pausing or outright canceling billions in funding while pushing schools to overhaul their admissions, hiring and teaching practices.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The issue with this is more than just a matter of hurt feelings.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Downy’s wrinkle spray works in a matter of seconds: Just lay your clothing flat, spritz it with wrinkle release spray, and use your hands to smooth the material out.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 2025.
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