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
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.
“Effects on crews, crafts, post-production personnel, vendors, and production-serving small businesses,” could also be substantial, the report said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The two companies already are carrying substantial interest costs due to their existing debt structures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
They can also selectively capture, carry, and release substantial numbers of bacteria.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
All that evidence, Patterson's team says, was not relevant and prejudicial, causing a substantial miscarriage of justice.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
“For the next few weeks, we’re going to be in open grassland with no guaranteed access to any substantial amount of water.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
