Matter — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈma-tər/ mat·ter

Meaning & Definition of Matter

Matter (noun)

  1. a subject under consideration
  2. a subject of disagreement or litigation
  3. the events or circumstances of a particular situation

Matter (verb)

  1. to form or discharge pus, suppurate
  2. to be of importance, signify

Matter (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)

    "that is not relevant to the matter under discussion"

    similar: content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic
    related: subject matter, talking point, count, idea, point, purpose, consideration, issue, problem, body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum, basis, bottom, essential, essentiality, affair, argument, debate
    near: aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

  2. something to be dealt with

    "we must take care of this matter before it becomes a real problem"

    similar: affair, business, thing, ball of wax
    related: consideration, issue, problem, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, emergency, exigency, flash point, head, juncture, strait, zero hour, concern, trouble, worry, care, lookout, responsibility, deadlock, halt, impasse, stalemate, standstill, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, pickle, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot

  3. communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system

    "first-class matter"

    similar: correspondence, mail, parcel post, post (chiefly British), snail mail
    related: airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling, direct mail, junk mail, mailer, card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, printed matter, bundle, package, shipment

  4. something that requires thought and skill for resolution

    "I've been thinking about the matter all night, and I believe I have a solution"

    similar: case, challenge, knot, nut, problem, trouble
    related: issue, question, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, mire, pickle, predicament, quagmire, spot, crux, Gordian knot, sticky wicket, toughie, catch-22, dilemma, quandary, catch, glitch, hitch, pitfall, snag, conundrum, enigma, mystery, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle, brainteaser, poser, stumper
    opposite: answer, solution
    near: magic bullet, silver bullet, cure-all, panacea

  5. an approximate amount, extent, or degree

    "a simple meal that can be prepared in a matter of 20 to 30 minutes"

    similar: neighborhood, tune, vicinity
    related: ballpark, nearness, proximity

Matter (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be of importance

    "she believes that doing well in school really does matter"

    similar: count, import, mean, signify, weigh, carry weight, cut ice
    related: affect, concern, influence, sway, add up (to), amount (to)

Related Entry: Matter-of-fact (adjective)

Matter-of-fact is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for matter-of-fact, not for matter.

  1. restricted to or based on fact

    "a matter-of-fact recitation of the events of the last week"

    similar: documentary, factual, hard, historical, literal, nonfictional, objective, true
    related: actual, authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, right, documented, established, confirmable, reliable, supportable, sustainable, verifiable, demonstrable, provable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable, plain, simple, certain, undoubted
    opposite: fictional, fictionalized, fictitious, nondocumentary, nonfactual, nonhistorical, unhistorical
    near: hypothetical, speculative, theoretical, apocryphal, unauthentic, undocumented, chimerical, fabulous, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, imagined, invented, legendary, made-up, make-believe, mythical, pretend, embroidered, exaggerated, insupportable, unsupportable

  2. willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly

    "a matter-of-fact woman who didn't worry about what ifs"

    similar: down-to-earth, earthy, hardheaded, practical, pragmatic, realistic
    related: idealless, philistine, utilitarian, commonsensical, grounded, levelheaded, logical, no-nonsense, rational, reasonable, sane, sensible, sober, sobersided, sound, bottom-line, hard, hard-boiled, hard-edged, tough-minded, unromantic, unsentimental, cynical, disillusioned, misanthropic, pessimistic, distrustful, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious
    opposite: blue-sky, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic, utopian, visionary
    near: fanciful, fantastic, imaginative, romantic, sentimental, cheerful, optimistic, rose-colored, trustful, trusting, unsuspicious, half-baked, illogical, insane, irrational, unreasonable, theoretical

Related Entry: Matter of course (phrase)

Matter of course is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for matter of course, not for matter.

  1. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "Once the apprentice finishes training, a license to practice is granted as a matter of course."

    similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot
    related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
    opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
    near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

Related Entry: Matter-of-factly (adverb)

Matter-of-factly is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for matter-of-factly, not for matter.

  1. as in frankly, candidly

    similar: candidly, frankly, freely, openheartedly, openly, casually, coolly, nonchalantly, genuinely, honestly, simply, truly, informally, relaxedly, unceremoniously, artlessly, guilelessly, ingenuously, innocently, naively, naturally, sincerely, unaffectedly, unfeignedly, unpretentiously
    opposite: affectedly, artificially, hypocritically, insincerely, pretentiously, unnaturally, artfully, cannily, deceitfully, deceptively, deviously, dishonestly, falsely, archly, calculatingly, craftily, cunningly, furtively, insidiously, sharply, shiftily, slickly, slyly, underhand, underhanded, underhandedly, flatteringly, sycophantically, unctuously

Related Entry: Gray matter (noun)

Gray matter is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for gray matter, not for matter.

  1. the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems

    "she's got the gray matter to figure that equation out"

    similar: brain(s), brainpower, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, intelligence, mentality, reason, sense, smarts
    related: eggheadedness, highbrowism, intellectualism, braininess, brilliance, acumen, alertness, apprehension, astuteness, discernment, discriminability, insight, judgment, perception, percipience, perspicacity, common sense, horse sense, mother wit, aptitude, talent, sagacity, sapience, wisdom, wit, head, mind, skull
    near: denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness, dumbness, fatuity, feeblemindedness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, imbecility, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity

Related Entry: Subject matter (noun)

Subject matter is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for subject matter, not for matter.

  1. the information or ideas that are discussed or dealt with in a book, movie, etc.; what something is about

    "I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing."

    "The magazine's editors care more about style than about subject matter."

    "She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter."

    similar: talking point, content, matter, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic, count, idea, point, purpose, consideration, issue, problem, body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum, basis, bottom, essential, essentiality, affair, argument, debate
    opposite: aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

Related Entry: As a matter of fact (phrase)

As a matter of fact is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for as a matter of fact, not for matter.

  1. to tell the truth

    ""You didn't bring snacks, did you?" "As a matter of fact, I did!""

    similar: actually, admittedly, forsooth, frankly, honestly, indeed, really, truly, truthfully, verily, in actuality, in fact, in point of fact, in reality, in truth, to be sure
    related: absolutely, certainly, indisputably, indubitably, positively, realistically, undoubtedly, unquestionably, veritably

Related Entry: No matter (phrase)

No matter is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for no matter, not for matter.

  1. in spite of everything

    "No matter what happens, we all made our best effort."

    similar: anyhow, anyway, anyways (chiefly dialect), regardless, whatever, at all events, at any rate, in any case, in any event, whether or no
    related: after all, however, nevertheless, always

Related Entry: Printed matter (noun)

Printed matter is a different word from Matter. The synonyms below are for printed matter, not for matter.

  1. as in letter, message

    similar: card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, direct mail, junk mail, mailer, bundle, package, shipment, airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling, correspondence, mail, matter, parcel post, post (chiefly British), snail mail

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Matter

The most common words with a similar meaning to Matter:

Chiefly British: post
content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic, affair, business, thing, correspondence, mail, parcel post, snail mail, case, challenge, knot, nut, problem, trouble, neighborhood, tune, vicinity, ball of wax, count, import, mean, signify, weigh, carry weight, cut ice

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Matter

Words with the opposite meaning of Matter:

answer, solution

Related Words for Matter

subject matter, talking point, idea, point, purpose, consideration, issue, body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot

Near Antonyms of Matter

aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent, magic bullet, silver bullet, cure-all, panacea

Word Forms of Matter

Inflections: mattered, mattering, matters

Phrases & Idioms with Matter

  • the matter — wrong

Origin & Etymology of Matter

Middle English matere, from Anglo-French, from Latin materia matter, physical substance, from mater

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Matter

Words & Phrases Containing Matter

matter of course, matter-of-fact, matter of (individual) conscience, matter of taste, as a matter of fact, back matter, Black Lives Matter, dark matter

Frequently Asked Questions about Matter

What does "Matter" mean?

"Matter" means a subject under consideration. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a subject under consideration. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Matter"?

Other words for "Matter" include content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic and affair. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Matter" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Matter"?

There are 157 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Matter". Common alternatives include content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic, affair, business and thing.

What is the opposite of "Matter"?

Antonyms of "Matter" include answer and solution. Near antonyms include aside, digression, excursion and interjection.

How do you use "Matter" in a sentence?

Examples of "Matter" in a sentence: "that is not relevant to the matter under discussion"; "we must take care of this matter before it becomes a real problem"; "first-class matter".

Is "Matter" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Matter" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Matter" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Matter" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Matter"?

"Matter" is pronounced /ˈma-tər/ and divided into syllables as mat·ter.