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 timing isn’t just a matter of convenience—in fact, studies show that the skin barrier is more permeable in the evening hours, which may allow these ingredients to more easily absorb into skin.
—
Deanna Pai, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
And with the likelihood increasing of a broader federal government shutdown, the department’s activities may be further diminished in just a matter of weeks.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
The official said that the first ammunition crisis following the US military aid pause would involve Patriot air defense missiles, which could run out in a matter of weeks.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Key donor nations, along with the World Bank, suspended $240 million in aid to Rwanda, putting a squeeze on Kigali that effectively ended the crisis: M23 fighters dispersed to camps in Rwanda and Uganda within a matter of months.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
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Deanna Pai, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
And with the likelihood increasing of a broader federal government shutdown, the department’s activities may be further diminished in just a matter of weeks.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
The official said that the first ammunition crisis following the US military aid pause would involve Patriot air defense missiles, which could run out in a matter of weeks.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Key donor nations, along with the World Bank, suspended $240 million in aid to Rwanda, putting a squeeze on Kigali that effectively ended the crisis: M23 fighters dispersed to camps in Rwanda and Uganda within a matter of months.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2025.
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