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 a matter of just a few days, the county judge, his son, his nephew, and one of his closest allies had been arrested in two separate incidents — the cattle-rustling case and the jury-duty hearing.
—
Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Getting the image is a matter of being in the wrong place at the right time, but no one can predict where and when that place and time will be.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
But back then, displays and demonstrations were a matter of function.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
In just a matter of hours, damaging winds and record-breaking flooding started to devastate many areas, especially the higher terrains of the southeastern Appalachians.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
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Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Getting the image is a matter of being in the wrong place at the right time, but no one can predict where and when that place and time will be.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
But back then, displays and demonstrations were a matter of function.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
In just a matter of hours, damaging winds and record-breaking flooding started to devastate many areas, especially the higher terrains of the southeastern Appalachians.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2025.
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