Matter Meaning
Matter Definition & Usage
A substance or material of which physical objects are made.
Examples
- "Water is the most abundant matter on Earth."
- "The scientist studied the properties of matter under extreme conditions."
- "The chair is made from solid matter, while the cushion is filled with foam."
- "Matter can exist in three main forms: solid, liquid, and gas."
- "In physics, matter is anything that has mass and takes up space."
The subject or topic being discussed, considered, or dealt with.
Examples
- "That's not important right now, let's focus on the matter at hand."
- "The matter of climate change requires immediate attention."
- "She was distressed by the matter of her lost keys."
- "The matter of the missing funds is being investigated."
- "We'll discuss the financial matter during the next meeting."
Importance or significance of something.
Examples
- "It doesn't matter how late you are, the meeting will start on time."
- "The color of the shirt doesn't matter, as long as it's clean."
- "To him, family matters more than anything else."
- "It doesn't matter if we win or lose, it's about playing the game."
- "What matters most is that we all try our best."
To be of importance or significance.
Examples
- "It doesn't matter if we miss the bus, we can catch the next one."
- "Nothing matters more to me than your happiness."
- "Does it really matter what people think of you?"
- "Your opinion matters, even if you think it doesn't."
- "It matters to me that we finish this project on time."
Cultural Context
The word 'matter' originates from the Latin word 'materia', which means 'substance'. Over time, it has broadened in use to represent abstract concepts like importance and significance. It is commonly used in both everyday and technical contexts, such as physics and philosophy.
The Matter of Importance
Story
The Matter of Importance
Sophie stood at the edge of the cliff, the wind blowing her hair into wild tangles as she stared down at the dark ocean below. She had always loved the sea, but today, it felt distant—more like a puzzle piece she couldn't quite place. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her away from her thoughts. It was a text from her best friend, Rachel: 'We need to talk about the matter.' Sophie sighed and tucked the phone back into her bag. 'What matter?' she thought, running through the possibilities in her head. The last time they'd used that phrase, it had been about the surprise birthday party Rachel was planning. But now, it seemed different. 'What could it be now?' Sophie wondered, her mind racing. She went back to the hotel, trying to put the thought of the message aside. But Rachel’s tone had been serious. As she entered the lobby, she found Rachel waiting with a worried expression. 'Sophie, there’s a matter of great importance we need to discuss.' Sophie raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. 'A matter of importance? What’s going on?' Rachel hesitated before replying, 'It’s about the project at work. We’ve hit a major roadblock, and it’s causing a lot of tension in the team.' Sophie sat down, absorbing the weight of Rachel’s words. 'So it’s a big issue, huh?' she asked. Rachel nodded, 'It’s more than just a problem, it’s something that could impact our careers.' Sophie’s thoughts flashed back to the previous year when she had been in a similar situation. The matter had seemed insurmountable, but they had managed to get through it together. 'We’ll figure it out,' Sophie said confidently. 'It’s just a matter of prioritizing the right steps.' Rachel smiled, relieved by Sophie’s words. 'Thanks. You’re right. We can handle this. It’s just a matter of how we approach it.' Later that evening, Sophie sat by the window, reflecting on the day. She realized that sometimes, life presented you with challenges that tested your resilience. But, in the end, it was never about what the problem was, but how you handled it that truly mattered.
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