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 New York Times reported in November that resources had been diverted from the SWAT team to Wilkins multiple times in a matter of months.
—
Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025
In just a matter of days, Dickerson’s TikTok video has amassed over 380 comments.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Moody said in an interview that the city views its decision as a matter of renegotiating rather than canceling the services, and has looked at other cost-saving measures to address its financial problems.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025
The release of the Epstein files is highly anticipated and could come in a matter of days.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a matter of
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025
In just a matter of days, Dickerson’s TikTok video has amassed over 380 comments.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Moody said in an interview that the city views its decision as a matter of renegotiating rather than canceling the services, and has looked at other cost-saving measures to address its financial problems.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025
The release of the Epstein files is highly anticipated and could come in a matter of days.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 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 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share