substantial
Americanadjective
-
of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc..
a substantial sum of money.
-
of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.
- Antonyms:
- ethereal, immaterial
-
of solid character or quality; firm, stout, or strong.
a substantial physique.
-
basic or essential; fundamental.
two stories in substantial agreement.
-
wealthy or influential.
one of the substantial men of the town.
-
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.
-
Philosophy. relating to or of the nature of substance or reality rather than an accident or attribute.
noun
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
-
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
Derived Forms
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
Explanation
Something substantial is large in size, number, or amount: If you want to say someone spent a lot of money without being too specific, you could say they spent a substantial amount of money. The adjective substantial derives from the Latin substantia "substance," which means "stuff." A substantial meal is large enough to satisfy hunger. A substantial structure is strongly made or built. And a substantial man possesses wealth and property. Related to this last sense, "a man of substance" refers to a wealthy man with property.
Vocabulary lists containing substantial
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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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.
Substantial regulatory, funding and execution complexities would need to be overcome for any acquisition to proceed, the carrier said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
She said: "Substantial protective measures were installed, including the erection of walls and the digging of trenches to mitigate the impact of any detonation and reduce ground shock."
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Substantial tariff revenue covers a lot of the debt issues.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
Substantial numbers of Americans, including one-third of white respondents, claim that white Americans face either a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of discrimination in the U.S.
From Salon • Feb. 8, 2024
Substantial Forms, Occult Qualities, Intentional Species, Idiosyncrasies, Sympathies and Antipathies of Things, are exploded...because they are only empty Sounds, Words whereof no Man can form a certain and determinate Idea.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
