matter
a vaguely specified concern
How often you will meet it
Rank 275 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 78,248 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.037% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- a vaguely specified concern also: affair, thing several matters to attend toit is none of your affair
- some situation or event that is thought about also: topic, subject, issue he kept drifting off the topiche had been thinking about the subject for several years
- that which has mass and occupies space physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it
- a problem is anything the matter?
- (used with negation) having consequence they were friends and it was no matter who won the games
- written works (especially in books or magazines) he always took some reading matter with him on the plane
verb
- have weight; have import, carry weight also: count, weigh It does not matter much
matter in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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But how to get out was the difficult matter.
The Water-Babies · Charles Kingsley · Chapter 1
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Then the doctor came to him and mentioned the matter of funeral arrangements.
The Valley of the Giants · Peter B. (Peter Bernard) Kyne · Chapter 1
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He used to say that all good detective work was a mere matter of method.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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She was quick to learn, but forgetful and dreamy, and not disposed to take the matter seriously.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Lord H-RT-NGT-N'S acceptance of the post of Prime Minister is considered to be merely a matter of time.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1