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
As a matter of fact, the sales of luxury goods in China in the first quarter of this year were indeed unsatisfactory.
—
Li Jun, WWD, 24 June 2024
Electrifying the Arab-Israeli Conflict Jewish immigrants and British authorities tried to sell electrification as a matter of business while Palestinian Arabs viewed it as a Zionist nation-building project.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Wilson said that is still a long-term goal, but proposing such a measure is a matter of timing.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 23 June 2024
Three years after the Americans left, in 1937, thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent would be executed in a matter of days on the orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, most near the 224-mile border.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for a matter of 
Li Jun, WWD, 24 June 2024
Electrifying the Arab-Israeli Conflict Jewish immigrants and British authorities tried to sell electrification as a matter of business while Palestinian Arabs viewed it as a Zionist nation-building project.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Wilson said that is still a long-term goal, but proposing such a measure is a matter of timing.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 23 June 2024
Three years after the Americans left, in 1937, thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent would be executed in a matter of days on the orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, most near the 224-mile border.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for a matter of
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a matter of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“A matter of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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