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

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Rushing because a cyclone was headed their way in a matter of days, the team built in six days a steel structure five by five by two meters high, anchored in the seabed and charged by a small onboard battery. Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025 Not that long ago, upgrades on cruises were a matter of loyalty and luck. Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 28 Mar. 2025 Whether Camilla truly orchestrated the feud or simply benefited from it remains a matter of speculation. Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 28 Mar. 2025 Rosé is almost guaranteed to break the record within a matter of days. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for a matter of

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Cite this Entry

“A matter of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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