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
Assessing him is a matter of perspective.
—
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
And while its sales have been mediocre so far, perhaps that’s simply a matter of branding; perhaps all the Charger needs is a new name, a Chrysler badge, and the title of personal luxury car.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2025
But the report concludes that to make the pivot successful, Washington must invest in new logistics and infrastructure—and define whether Puerto Rico’s growing role is a matter of deterrence or the first step in a broader campaign against Venezuela.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The conflict has been a matter of ongoing tension at Microsoft.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a matter of
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Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
And while its sales have been mediocre so far, perhaps that’s simply a matter of branding; perhaps all the Charger needs is a new name, a Chrysler badge, and the title of personal luxury car.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2025
But the report concludes that to make the pivot successful, Washington must invest in new logistics and infrastructure—and define whether Puerto Rico’s growing role is a matter of deterrence or the first step in a broader campaign against Venezuela.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The conflict has been a matter of ongoing tension at Microsoft.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 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 13 Oct. 2025.
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