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
And there’s only a matter of time until that house of cards comes tumbling down.
—
Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
The Hughes Fire roared from nothing to nearly 10,000 acres in just a matter of hours.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Tensions between the federal government and sanctuary cities during the first Trump administration weren’t just a matter of political sparring.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Oklahoma City has built this thing from the bottom — and in a matter of only a few years.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
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Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
The Hughes Fire roared from nothing to nearly 10,000 acres in just a matter of hours.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Tensions between the federal government and sanctuary cities during the first Trump administration weren’t just a matter of political sparring.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Oklahoma City has built this thing from the bottom — and in a matter of only a few years.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for a matter of
Dictionary Entries Near 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 2 Feb. 2025.
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