in substance
Idioms-
In reality, essentially, as in The Archbishop of Salzburg was in substance a temporal authority as well . [Late 1300s]
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In essence, basically, as in I don't remember all the details, but in substance this was the plan . [Late 1400s]
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.
That is, in substance, what the court approved here.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
Totally lacking in substance, with a gratuitous dance break – what's not to like?
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
The new complaints, ruled "sufficient in substance" by a vote of 54-1, accuse her of graft and corruption while in office and of making a death threat against former ally President Ferdinand Marcos.
From Barron's ● Mar. 4, 2026
“Not as just supported on paper, but that it’s supported in substance, too.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 28, 2026
Sir David Cardinal spoke next, and though I missed much of his speech, it seemed to be more technical in substance, and quite frankly, rather above my head.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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.
