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
Not merely as a matter of continuity, alignment and stability — though those are crucial points amid all the general upheaval in college sports, with six Southeastern Conference rivals changing coaches and at a school with its fourth athletic director since Mike Alden retired in 2015.
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Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Packed with potent actives, clays, and hydrating, soothing ingredients, these formulas have the power to improve skin tone, texture, signs of aging, and radiance in a matter of minutes.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
This is a technologically advanced system that can leverage algorithms and AI to parse relevant résumés in a matter of moments.
—William Jones, IndyStar, 12 Dec. 2025
Frostbite can happen in a matter of minutes, especially on extremities like fingers, toes, nose and ears.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
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Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Packed with potent actives, clays, and hydrating, soothing ingredients, these formulas have the power to improve skin tone, texture, signs of aging, and radiance in a matter of minutes.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
This is a technologically advanced system that can leverage algorithms and AI to parse relevant résumés in a matter of moments.
—William Jones, IndyStar, 12 Dec. 2025
Frostbite can happen in a matter of minutes, especially on extremities like fingers, toes, nose and ears.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 Dec. 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 15 Dec. 2025.
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