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
Analysts believe around 10,000 people were executed in a matter of weeks in prisons across the country, their bodies hidden in unmarked mass graves.
—
Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 20 May 2024
Golden freshman Abigail Trapp claimed her third sprint title in a matter of hours, winning the 4A girls 200-meter dash in 24.88 seconds.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for a matter of 
Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 20 May 2024
Golden freshman Abigail Trapp claimed her third sprint title in a matter of hours, winning the 4A girls 200-meter dash in 24.88 seconds.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 18 May 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 29 May. 2024.
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