matter
noun
uk
/ˈmæt.ər/ us
/ˈmæt̬.ɚ/matter noun (SITUATION)
B2 [ C ]
Please phone me back - it's a matter of some importance.
Talking about the world's problems is one thing, but solving them is another matter altogether (= is completely different).
- It's all right working with him, but living with him would be a different matter altogether.
- The government decided to hold a public enquiry into the matter.
- The whole matter is further complicated by the fact that Amanda and Jo refuse to speak to each other.
- This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
- You're not going to help matters by lying there sobbing!
matter noun (PROBLEM)
the matter A2 [ S ]
- a hard/tough row to hoe idiom
- abyss
- adversity
- at your worst idiom
- Augean
- bad hair day
- emergence
- epidemic
- hardness
- have a bumpy ride idiom
- have someone over a barrel idiom
- purgatory
- push factor
- quagmire
- quicksand
- rabbit hole
- scrape
- strait
- the Augean Stables idiom
- the hard way idiom
matter noun (SUBSTANCE)
Some scientists believe that there is about ten times as much matter in the universe as astronomers have observed.
Most vegetable matter is compostable.
- absorbency
- absorption
- acidic
- allotropic
- allotropy
- compressible
- e-liquid
- fluidity
- granulated
- impervious
- melted
- polyunsaturated
- rarefy
- reflective
- rustily
- rusty
- self-healing
- sloppily
- sloppiness
- sloppy
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
matter noun (SMALL AMOUNT)
C2 [ S ]
She complained he had short-changed her, but it was only a matter of a few pence.
Grammar
Idioms
We were late but it didn't seem to matter.
"What did you say?" "Oh, it doesn't matter."
[ + question word ] It doesn't matter what you wear - just as long as you come.
Compare
- Oh just put it anywhere - it doesn't matter where.
- Her health is what matters - the cost of the treatment is of secondary importance.
- It's the sum total of what you eat over a long period that matters and not what you consume in a day.
- The only thing that matters is that the baby is healthy.
- It doesn't matter if you fail, just do your best.
