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 just a matter of days, the viral video has generated more than 10,100 comments on TikTok.
—
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
They can typically be sprayed off and left to air dry to like-new results within a matter of minutes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024
Here, the strap inflates quietly and gives you a result within a matter of seconds.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
These benign microbes exclusively dock onto and destroy bacteria, and your infection clears in a matter of days.
—Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 31 Dec. 2024
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Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
They can typically be sprayed off and left to air dry to like-new results within a matter of minutes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024
Here, the strap inflates quietly and gives you a result within a matter of seconds.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
These benign microbes exclusively dock onto and destroy bacteria, and your infection clears in a matter of days.
—Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a matter of
Dictionary Entries Near 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 Jan. 2025.
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