Definition of “matter” - English Dictionary

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“matter” in English

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matternoun

uk /ˈmæt.ər/ us /ˈmæt̬.ɚ/

matter noun (SITUATION)

B2 [ C ] a situation or subject that is being dealt with or considered:

Could I talk to you about a personal matter?

Allen denied any knowledge of the matter.

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).

matters [ plural ]

› the situation being dealt with or being discussed:

Her resignation is not going to help matters.

to make matters worse

B2 used to say that something has made a bad or difficult situation worse:

Three of our players were ill, and to make matters worse, our main scorer had broken his ankle.

be a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc.

C2 If something is a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc. that is all you need for it to happen:

Baking a cake isn't difficult - it's just a matter of following the recipe.

be no laughing matter

C2 to be very serious and not a situation that people should joke about:

Being arrested by the police is no laughing matter.

More examples

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!

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Topics & areas of interest

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Deteriorating and making worse

Easiness and simplicity

Serious and severe

matter noun (PROBLEM)

the matter A2 [ S ]

More examples

What's the matter with Lulu?
I don't know what's the matter with this phone.
You look upset - is anything the matter?
Why do you need another computer? What's the matter with the one you've got?
Julie was crying, but she wouldn't say what the matter was.

› the reason for pain, worry, or a problem:

What's the matter? Why are you crying?

What's the matter with your hand? It's bleeding.

Is anything the matter?

I don't know what the matter is with the car, but it won't start.

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Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences

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matter noun (SUBSTANCE)

› [ U ] physical substance in the universe:

Some scientists believe that there is about ten times as much matter in the universe as astronomers have observed.

› [ U ] a substance of a particular kind:

Most vegetable matter is compostable.

There's no waste matter left over.

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Physics: the state of matter

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matter noun (TYPE)

C2 [ U ] a substance or things of a particular type:

advertising/printed matter

Do you find the subject matter of the book (= the subject that the book deals with) interesting?

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Categories and varieties

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matter noun (SMALL AMOUNT)

C2 [ S ] used in expressions describing how small an amount or period of time is:

The interview was over in a matter of minutes.

She complained he had short-changed her, but it was only a matter of a few pence.

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Words meaning small pieces and amounts

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Grammar

MatterWe can use matter as a verb or a noun. It is a very common word with a number of different uses and grammatical patterns. …

Matter as a verb …

Matter as a noun …

No matterWe can use no matter to link two clauses as a conjunction. It is a short form of it does not matter. We can use no matter with what, when, where, which, who and how to refer to a situation that cannot be changed, even though we try: …

Matter: typical errors …

Idiom(s)

as a matter of course

as a matter of fact

be (only) a matter of time

be a matter of life and/or death

be a matter of opinion

be a matter of record

for that matter

the matter in hand

no matter

no matter what, when, why, etc.

take matters into your own hands

that's a matter of opinion

matterverb [ I ]

uk /ˈmæt.ər/ us /ˈmæt̬.ɚ/

B2 to be important, or to affect what happens:

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.

[ + that ] It didn't matter that our best player was injured after ten minutes - we still won.

I know Charles doesn't think this project is important, but it matters to me.

More examples

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.