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
The Toledo Truth Teller undergoes a stabilization of its own, from barely-there data-harvesting clickbait to award-winning enterprise in what appears to be a matter of a few months.
—
Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Since Blood of My Blood has already been renewed for a second season, viewers can rest assured that Julia and Henry’s reunion is a matter of when and how, not if.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
For Lopes, trust isn’t a matter of believing intellectually in the honesty or goodwill of another individual or institution.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Sep. 2025
Lawyers for the media companies argue that the reports should not be sealed and are a matter of public record under the First Amendment.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
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Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Since Blood of My Blood has already been renewed for a second season, viewers can rest assured that Julia and Henry’s reunion is a matter of when and how, not if.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
For Lopes, trust isn’t a matter of believing intellectually in the honesty or goodwill of another individual or institution.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Sep. 2025
Lawyers for the media companies argue that the reports should not be sealed and are a matter of public record under the First Amendment.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 5 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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