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
Power On Demand Sennheiser says the RS 275 kit can be up and running in a matter of minutes and the settings can be personalized using the Sennheiser’s free Smart Control Plus app, which is available for Android and iOS devices.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But the Department of Corrections commissioner said those coordinated turnovers are already happening — and have been for years, as a matter of policy and state law.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, Gonzalez began documenting his daily life with his video crew.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 22 Jan. 2026
Indeed, economic inequality isn’t simply a matter of frustration over income.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 22, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
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Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But the Department of Corrections commissioner said those coordinated turnovers are already happening — and have been for years, as a matter of policy and state law.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In a matter of weeks, Gonzalez began documenting his daily life with his video crew.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 22 Jan. 2026
Indeed, economic inequality isn’t simply a matter of frustration over income.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 22, Futurism, 22 Jan. 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 25 Jan. 2026.
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