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
When drones attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in 2019, taking out 5% of the country’s oil production, prices spiked but surprisingly returned to normal within a matter of weeks.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Yet the Mayor’s task seemed primarily to be a matter of remaining extremely visible and communicative, while committing no egregious public blunders, as members of the municipal workforce did their jobs.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
In a matter of days, he was affiliated with four different teams and then forced to acclimate with a new team for the first time in his four NBA seasons.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
As a matter of perspective, if the Celtics close 14-14 the rest of the way, the Heat would have to go 21-5 to catch the Celtics, considering Boston already has clinched the season-series tiebreaker.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
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David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Yet the Mayor’s task seemed primarily to be a matter of remaining extremely visible and communicative, while committing no egregious public blunders, as members of the municipal workforce did their jobs.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
In a matter of days, he was affiliated with four different teams and then forced to acclimate with a new team for the first time in his four NBA seasons.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
As a matter of perspective, if the Celtics close 14-14 the rest of the way, the Heat would have to go 21-5 to catch the Celtics, considering Boston already has clinched the season-series tiebreaker.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
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 20 Feb. 2026.
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