substantial

[suhb-stan-shuhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR substantial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc.: a substantial sum of money.

of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.

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.

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

something substantial.

Origin of substantial

1300–50; Middle English substancial < Late Latin substantiālis, equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ālis -al¹

Related formssub·stan·ti·al·i·ty, sub·stan·tial·ness, nounsub·stan·tial·ly, adverbnon·sub·stan·tial, adjectivenon·sub·stan·tial·ly, adverbnon·sub·stan·tial·ness, nounnon·sub·stan·ti·al·i·ty, nounpre·sub·stan·tial, adjectivesu·per·sub·stan·tial, adjectivesu·per·sub·stan·tial·ly, adverb

Synonyms for substantial

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR substantial ON THESAURUS.COM

3. stable, sound. 6. valid, important.

Antonyms for substantial

2. immaterial, ethereal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for substantial

generous, extraordinary, solid, hefty, steady, valuable, large, sizable, massive, significant, big, consequential, serious, strong, meaningful, considerable, vast, positive, actual, material

Examples from the Web for substantial

Contemporary Examples of substantial

Judging from current figures, there would be a substantial demand for this option, too.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women
Samantha Allen
January 3, 2015
Justin Bieber with a party boy reputation and a substantial body of sexts available for Googling.
‘Jane the Virgin’ Is The CW’s Best Show Ever
Amy Zimmerman
October 28, 2014
Prior to the Syrian civil war, the country had a substantial air defense network—mostly consisting of older Soviet-built systems.
First U.S. Stealth Jet Attack on Syria Cost More Than Indian Mission to Mars
Dave Majumdar
September 24, 2014
The impact, even among cities with unconfirmed cases, is substantial.
Midwest's 'Mystery Virus' Is Scary but Not Deadly
Kent Sepkowitz
September 8, 2014
Consumers have been schooled to be wary of companies that offer them valuable products for free along with substantial rebates.
Panel Discussion
The Daily Beast
September 8, 2014

Historical Examples of substantial

He went back to his hotel, and feeling hungry, made a substantial meal.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
A tooth-mug of substantial earthenware dropped to the floor with a crash.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
It is necessary to have one member of the firm solid and substantial.
A Woman Intervenes
Robert Barr
Still, there was a substantial appearance of comfort and wealth about it.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 2 August 1848
Various
The only substantial food at table was a great dish of game.
Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli

British Dictionary definitions for substantial

substantial

adjective

of a considerable size or valuesubstantial funds

worthwhile; importanta substantial reform

having wealth or importance

(of food or a meal) sufficient and nourishing

solid or strong in construction, quality, or charactera substantial door

real; actual; truethe 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

Derived Formssubstantiality (səbˌstænʃɪˈælɪtɪ) or substantialness, nounsubstantially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for substantial

adj.

mid-14c., "ample, sizeable," from Old French substantiel (13c.), from Latin substantialis "having substance or reality, material," from substantia (see substance). Meaning "existing, having real existence" is from late 14c.