matter
matter
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "matter" is /ˈmæt.ər/.
/ˈmæt/
/ər/
Word Form Variations
Noun: matter (singular), matters (plural)
Verb: matter (base form), matters (third person singular present), mattering (present participle), mattered (past simple, past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; that which occupies space and has mass.
Synonyms: substance, material, stuff, essence, material world
Antonyms: spirit, mind, energy, void, nothingness
Definition 2: A subject or situation under consideration; a topic of concern or discussion.
Synonyms: issue, topic, subject, affair, concern, case, question
Antonyms: irrelevance, triviality, non-issue, insignificance
Definition 3: (Often "matters") The content of written or spoken information, as opposed to its form.
Synonyms: content, text, data, information, substance, gist
Antonyms: form, style, presentation, appearance
Definition 4: (Informal) Pus or other discharge from an infected wound or bodily orifice.
Synonyms: pus, discharge, exudate, secretion
Antonyms: (No direct antonym, refers to a specific type of bodily fluid)
Definition 5: (Archaic or poetic) The essential quality or qualities of something.
Synonyms: essence, core, substance, heart, crux
Antonyms: superficiality, externals, triviality
Verb
Definition 1: To be of importance; to be significant.
Synonyms: count, signify, be important, be relevant, be meaningful, weigh
Antonyms: be unimportant, be irrelevant, be insignificant, not count, be trivial
Definition 2: (Of a substance) To form pus; to discharge purulent material.
Synonyms: fester, suppurate, discharge (pus)
Antonyms: heal, dry (of a wound), clean (of discharge)
Examples of Use
Books:
"She discovered that to truly understand the universe, one must delve into the fundamental nature of matter and energy." (From a physics textbook or popular science book like Cosmos by Carl Sagan)
"It didn't matter how much money he had; true happiness remained elusive." (Fictional example from a philosophical novel or drama)
"The novel's true genius lies not in its plot, but in its profound exploration of the human condition and the matter of free will." (From a literary analysis)
Newspapers:
"The government's new policy on climate change is a matter of grave concern for environmental activists." ("The Standard,")
"Scientists are researching dark matter, a mysterious substance believed to constitute a large portion of the universe's mass." ("The New York Times,")
"The court ruled that the private matter between the two individuals should remain confidential." ("Daily Nation,")
Online Publications:
"Does your diet really matter for weight loss? Experts weigh in on common myths." (An article on a health and wellness blog, e.g., "Healthline.com,")
"The developer emphasized that secure coding practices matter more than ever in today's digital landscape." (A tech article on "InfoWorld.com,")
"What's the matter with the housing market? An in-depth analysis of current trends." (A financial news piece on "Investopedia.com,")
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the Force be with you." (Star Wars, 1977) - This implicitly refers to an unseen energy that binds all living "matter."
Television Series: "No matter what happens, we stick together. That's family." (Dialogue from a family drama or action series, e.g., Fast & Furious franchise)
Song Lyrics: "Nothing else matters." (Metallica, "Nothing Else Matters," 1991)
Video Games: "Your choices in this dialogue really matter; they will determine the fate of the kingdom." (In-game narration or tutorial, e.g., The Witcher 3)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we explore why empathy matters in leadership and how to cultivate it." (A podcast on leadership or self-improvement, e.g., Dare to Lead with Brené Brown)
General Public Discourse:
"What's the matter? You look worried." (A common question to express concern)
"It doesn't matter if we're a few minutes late, they won't start without us." (A casual statement implying insignificance)
"Every vote matters in this election." (Emphasizing importance in a political context)
"Don't worry about the small stuff, it's only the big things that matter." (A piece of advice, sometimes debated)
"This is a private matter between me and my family." (A statement to assert privacy)
"The wound on his arm started to matter, indicating an infection." (Describing a medical condition)
10 Quotes Using Matter
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” – Robin Williams
“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
“The only thing that matters in life is your own opinion about yourself.” – Osho
“It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.” – Oprah Winfrey
“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.” – Jack Kornfield
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“It is not length of life, but depth of life that matters.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Etymology
The word "matter" has a long history, coming from Latin through French.
It originated from the Old French word matiere, which meant "subject of a book," "topic," or "physical substance."
This Old French word, in turn, came from the Latin word māteria. In Latin, māteria had a few core meanings:
"Tree trunk," "timber," or "wood" (especially as building material).
From there, it extended to mean "substance," "material," or "the stuff from which something is made."
It also had a more abstract sense of "subject matter" or "topic" (the "stuff" of a discussion).
So, when "matter" first entered the English language around the early 13th century (Middle English period), its initial meanings reflected these Latin roots:
"Physical substance" or "material."
"Subject or topic of discourse," as in "what's the matter?"
The verb sense, "to be of importance" (e.g., "it doesn't matter"), developed from the noun's meaning of "importance" or "relevance" around the late 14th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Matter
As a matter of fact: In reality; actually.
As a matter of course: As a natural or logical result; automatically.
No matter: Regardless of; it doesn't make a difference.
A matter of time: Something that is certain to happen eventually.
A matter of opinion: Something about which people can reasonably disagree.
A matter of principle: An issue involving a fundamental moral rule or belief.
To make matters worse: To aggravate an already bad situation.
The heart of the matter: The most important or essential part of an issue.
To get down to brass tacks: To discuss the essential points of a matter. (Synonymous with "getting to the core of the matter")
A grave matter: A very serious or important issue.
For that matter: Concerning that point or subject.
A trifling matter: Something of little importance. (Synonym for "a small matter")
To take matters into one's own hands: To deal with a problem oneself, especially when official channels have failed.
A grey matter: (Informal) Refers to the brain or intelligence.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of matter from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
