Matter (noun) — the physical substance that makes up the world; also a subject, situation, or affair requiring attention: "a matter of great importance".
Matter (verb) — to be important or significant; to make a difference: "It does not matter which method you use — consistency is key."
What Does Matter Mean?
Matter is one of the most versatile words in English. It functions as both a noun and a verb, and it appears in dozens of everyday phrases and formal expressions. Understanding its different senses will give you more precision and confidence at every level.
As a noun, matter has two main senses. In science and philosophy, it refers to physical substance — anything that has mass and occupies space: dark matter, organic matter, grey matter. In everyday use, it refers to a subject, situation, or affair: a matter of opinion, a personal matter, the matter at hand.
As a verb, matter means to be important or to make a difference: "What you say matters." It is nearly always used in the third person and is frequently negated: "It does not matter." This verb sense is very common in speech and informal writing.
Etymology note: Matter comes from Latin materia ("wood, timber; the substance of things"), via Old French matiere. The Latin root is related to mater ("mother") — the idea being that raw material is the "mother" from which things are formed. The word entered Middle English in the 13th century. The verb sense "to be of importance" developed in the 16th century and is now among the most common uses of the word.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| It does not matter which bus you take — they both stop at the station. | A2 — verb in a simple negative sentence |
| She asked what the matter was, but he said everything was fine. | B1 — fixed phrase "what's the matter" |
| The committee agreed to discuss the matter at the next meeting. | B1 — noun in a formal context |
| Whether you succeed or fail, the effort you make matters far more than the result. | B2 — verb in a complex sentence expressing value |
| The report concluded that, as a matter of principle, transparency ought to take precedence over convenience in all policy decisions. | C1 — fixed phrase in formal academic writing |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| serious matter | This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. |
| matter of opinion | Whether the policy is fair is a matter of opinion. |
| matter of fact | As a matter of fact, the deadline was yesterday. |
| no matter what | I will be there no matter what happens. |
| to make matters worse | He arrived late, and to make matters worse, he forgot the documents. |
| settle a matter | The lawyers met to settle the matter out of court. |
| raise a matter | She raised the matter at the team meeting. |
| grey matter | The puzzle is designed to exercise your grey matter. |
| printed matter | Customs regulations may apply to printed matter sent by post. |
| a matter of course | Regular feedback should be offered as a matter of course. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for ESL Learners
- The verb matter is stative — it describes a state, not an action. Do not use it in the continuous form: say "Your feedback matters", not "Your feedback is mattering".
- What's the matter? is a fixed idiomatic phrase meaning "What is wrong?" It is not the same as asking about a topic or subject.
- In formal English, the matter (with the definite article) often refers to a specific situation already under discussion: "We must resolve the matter before Friday."
- No matter + question word (what, where, when, how) forms a concessive subordinate clause: "No matter how hard you try, some things take time."
- In science, matter is an uncountable noun: "all matter in the universe". In everyday use as "a subject/affair", it is countable: "several matters to discuss".
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The matter is mattering a lot to her. (stative verb — no continuous)
The matter matters a lot to her.
It doesn't matter of what you think. (incorrect preposition)
It doesn't matter what you think.
No matter of the cost, we must finish. (wrong fixed phrase)
No matter the cost, we must finish. (or: regardless of the cost)
She asked about the matter of the meeting. (vague — specify the topic)
She asked about the agenda for the meeting.