Word
substantial
Significant in size, amount, or importance.
Meanings
Of considerable importance, size, or worth.
Firmly constructed or sturdy; not flimsy.
Definition
When something is substantial, it is large in quantity, degree, or extent, often implying importance or value. It suggests a significant amount of something rather than a small or negligible one. This term is frequently used to describe quantities, improvements, or evidence.
Examples
- The company reported a substantial increase in profits this quarter.
- She made substantial progress on her research project over the summer.
- We need a substantial amount of evidence to prove his innocence.
- The old farmhouse has very substantial walls, built to last centuries.
- They received a substantial donation for the new community center to support local programs.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "substantial" with "substantive"; while both imply importance, "substantial" more often refers to quantity or size, whereas "substantive" refers to content or reality.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.