matter

plural matters

1. Material; substance.
   1. countableuncountablenatural sciencesAnything with mass and volume.
   2. countableuncountablenatural sciencesMatter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles.

      Antonyms: antimatter

   3. countableuncountableA kind of substance.

      vegetable matter

   4. countableuncountablePrinted material, especially in books or magazines.

      He always took some reading matter with him on the plane.

   5. countableuncountablehuman sciencesAristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.
2. countableuncountableAn affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.

   Something is the matter with him.

   5 more examples

   I have no religion: it is a matter of indifference to me.

   The diplomats met to discuss state matters.

   So in many armies, if the matter ſhould bee tried by duell betvvene tvvo Champions, the victory ſhould goe on the one ſide, & yet if it be tried by the groſſe, it vvould goe on the other ſide: for excellencies goe as it vvere by chance, but kinds goe by a more certaine Nature, as by Diſcipline in vvarre.

   1597, Francis [Bacon], “Of the Colours of Good and Evill, a Fragment”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland […], published 1632, →OCLC

   Son of God, Saviour of men! Thy name / Shall be the copious matter of my song.

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus xviii:22

   Synonyms: res

3. countableuncountableAn approximate amount or extent.

   I stayed for a matter of months.

   3 more examples

   No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.

   1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC

   Away he goes, […] a matter of seven miles.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

   […] I have Thoughts to tarry a ſmall Matter in Town, to learn ſomewhat of your Lingo firſt, before I croſs the Seas.

   1700, [William] Congreve, The Way of the World, a Comedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act III, scene xv, page 47

4. countablelawLegal services provided by a lawyer or firm to their client in relation to a particular issue.

   Please find attached an invoice for three outstanding matters.

5. countableobsoleteuncountableEssence; pith; embodiment.

   He is the matter of virtue.

   1611, Ben Jonson, Oberon, the Faery Prince

6. countableobsoleteuncountable(The) inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.

   And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.

   1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC

7. countabledateduncountablemedicinePus.
8. uncountableImportance.

   What matter if we unrewarded must strive, / If Wall Street and gamblers around it may thrive? / What matter if we doubly pay for our food / To support the monopolist kings of the road?

   1880, Bernard Nulty, The Patriot Chief: And Other Poems, page 211

present singular third person matters · participle present mattering · participle past mattered · past mattered

1. intransitivestativeTo be important.First known use 16th c.

   The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.

   4 more examples

   Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.

   As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,[…]. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get.[…]I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.

   1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC

   Despite further attempts by Agbonlahor and Young, however, they could not find the goal to reward their endeavour. It mattered little as Newcastle's challenge faded and Villa began to dominate the game in midfield, and it was only Barton's continued sense of injustice that offered the visitors any spark in a tame contest.

   2011 April 10, Alistair Magowan, “Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport

   Not all platforms are equal. Some are busier and thus more important than others. A rural station that doesn't comply matters less than a major London terminus.

   2025 October 15, Philip Haigh, “Merseyrail leads in an unlevel playing field”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 51

   Synonyms: signify

2. CaribbeanEnglandregionaltransitiveTo care about, to mind; to find important.First known use 17th c.

   He matter'd not that, he said; coy maids made the fondest wives […].

   1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LVI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   Besides, if it had been out of doors I had not mattered it so much; but with my own servant, in my own house, under my own roof […]

   , Folio Society 1973, p.47

3. archaicintransitivemedicineTo form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

   Each slight sore mattereth.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

plural Matters

1. A surname.