📒 used (to ask) if somebody is upset, unhappy, etc. or if there is a problem
- What's the matter? Is there something wrong?
- Is anything the matter?
- matter with somebody/something Is something the matter with Bob? He seems very down.
📒 a subject or situation that you must consider or deal with
- It's a private matter.
- They had important matters to discuss.
- She may need your help with some business matters.
📒 the present situation, or the situation that you are talking about
- Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to improve matters.
- I'd forgotten the keys, which didn't help matters.
- And then, to make matters worse, his parents turned up.
📒 a situation that involves something or depends on something
- matter of something Learning to drive is all a matter of coordination.
- Some people prefer the older version to the new one. It's a matter of taste.
- She resigned over a matter of principle.
📒 physical substance that everything in the world is made of; not mind or spirit
- to study the properties of matter
- This swirling mass of energy and matter is classed as a spiral galaxy.
📒 a substance or things of a particular sort
- Add plenty of organic matter to improve the soil.
- elimination of waste matter from the body
- She didn't approve of their choice of reading matter.
📒 used to add a comment on something that you have just said, usually adding something that you think the other person will be interested in
- It's a nice place. We've stayed there ourselves, as a matter of fact.
📒 used to disagree with something that somebody has just said
- ‘I suppose you'll be leaving soon, then?’ ‘No, as a matter of fact I'll be staying for another two years.’
📒 to be very different
- I know which area they live in, but whether I can find their house is a different matter.
- That's a whole different matter.
- I don't mind lizards, but snakes are a different matter.
📒 to be something serious that you should not joke about
📒 used to emphasize a statement, especially one that is the opposite of what has just been mentioned
- A new car would be wonderful but the fact of the matter is that we can't afford one.
📒 used to add a comment on something that you have just said
- I didn't like it much. Nor did the kids, for that matter.
📒 used to say that something will definitely happen, although you are not sure when
- It's only a matter of time before they bring out their own version of the software.
📒 (as) the usual and correct thing to do
- We always check people's addresses as a matter of course.
📒 only a few hours, minutes, etc.
- It was all over in a matter of minutes.
- The bullet missed her by a matter of inches.
📒 used to describe a situation that is very important or serious
- You mustn't let anyone know— it's a matter of life and death.
- These talks are a matter of life or death for the factory.
📒 something that has been recorded as being true
📒 used to say that something is not important
- If that doesn't work out, no matter, I'll rent for another year or two.
📒 used to say that something is always true, whatever the situation is, or that somebody should certainly do something
- They don't last long no matter how careful you are.
- Call me when you get there, no matter what the time is.