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
Speaking at the summit about what this means in everyday terms, the President of Ghana shared a moving personal reflection: that when he was born, surviving past your fifth birthday as a child in Ghana was often a matter of luck.
—
Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Business success isn’t just a matter of booming sales, innovative technology, or record-breaking accolades.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Whether that makes up for angry, screaming Spock, though, is a matter of opinion.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 30 June 2025
The frame folds in a matter of seconds with a simple pull mechanism that compacts those six limbs down into a 33.5 x 13.8 x 7.9-in (85 x 35 x 20-cm) carry bag that can be hauled on the shoulder or worn like a backpack.
—New Atlas, 30 June 2025
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Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Business success isn’t just a matter of booming sales, innovative technology, or record-breaking accolades.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Whether that makes up for angry, screaming Spock, though, is a matter of opinion.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 30 June 2025
The frame folds in a matter of seconds with a simple pull mechanism that compacts those six limbs down into a 33.5 x 13.8 x 7.9-in (85 x 35 x 20-cm) carry bag that can be hauled on the shoulder or worn like a backpack.
—New Atlas, 30 June 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 6 Jul. 2025.
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