substantial
Americanadjective
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of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc..
a substantial sum of money.
-
of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.
- Antonyms:
- ethereal, immaterial
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of solid character or quality; firm, stout, or strong.
a substantial physique.
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basic or essential; fundamental.
two stories in substantial agreement.
-
wealthy or influential.
one of the substantial men of the town.
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of real worth, value, or effect.
substantial reasons.
- Synonyms:
- weighty, important, consequential, significant
-
relating to the substance, matter, or material of a thing.
-
of or relating to the essence of a thing.
the substantial parts of the ruling.
-
existing as or being a substance; having independent existence.
a substantial being.
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Philosophy. relating to or of the nature of substance or reality rather than an accident or attribute.
noun
-
something substantial.
adjective
-
of a considerable size or value
substantial funds
-
worthwhile; important
a substantial reform
-
having wealth or importance
-
(of food or a meal) sufficient and nourishing
-
solid or strong in construction, quality, or character
a substantial door
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real; actual; true
the evidence is substantial
-
of or relating to the basic or fundamental substance or aspects of a thing
-
philosophy of or relating to substance rather than to attributes, accidents, or modifications
Other Word Forms
- nonsubstantial adjective
- nonsubstantiality noun
- nonsubstantialness noun
- presubstantial adjective
- substantiality noun
- substantially adverb
- substantialness noun
- supersubstantial adjective
Etymology
Origin of substantial
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English substancial, from Late Latin substantiālis, equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ālis -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Formula One also has a substantial growth runway, they say, with the potential to significantly ramp up monetization for MotoGP, the world’s premier motorcycle racing championship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
The U.S., with its substantial domestic oil production, is unlikely to experience physical shortages in the near term.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Together, they create a cake that feels balanced — substantial enough to anchor a streusel, light enough to warrant a second slice.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
France agreed to make an unspecified "substantial and continuing" contribution.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Although there were many limbs, they looked rubbery and not substantial enough to bear any weight, so it had to be a swimmer.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.