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
adjective
-
of a considerable size or value
substantial funds
-
worthwhile; important
a substantial reform
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having wealth or importance
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(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.
The U.S., with its substantial domestic oil production, is unlikely to experience physical shortages in the near term.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
But, as in 1979, people who saw substantial inflation may be quick to expect more inflation, and then the Fed will have to react strongly, as it did in 1980.
From The Wall Street Journal • 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
The humans who domesticated animals were the first to fall victim to the newly evolved germs, but those humans then evolved substantial resistance to the new diseases.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
