SUBSTANTIAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does substantial mean? 

• SUBSTANTIAL (adjective)
  The adjective SUBSTANTIAL has 6 senses:

1. of considerable importance, size, or worth

2. of or relating to the real nature or essential elements of something

3. having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary

4. providing abundant nourishment

5. of good quality and condition; solidly built

6. having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

  Familiarity information: SUBSTANTIAL used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUBSTANTIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of considerable importance, size, or worth

Synonyms:

significant; substantial

Context example:

won by a substantial margin

Similar:

considerable (large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to the real nature or essential elements of something

Synonyms:

substantial; substantive

Context example:

a substantial argument

Similar:

essential (basic and fundamental)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary

Synonyms:

material; real; substantial

Context example:

The wind was violent and felt substantial enough to lean against

Also:

material (derived from or composed of matter)

Attribute:

solidness; substantiality; substantialness (the quality of being substantial or having substance)

Antonym:

insubstantial (lacking material form or substance; unreal)

Derivation:

substance (the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists)

substantiality; substantialness (the quality of being substantial or having substance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Providing abundant nourishment

Synonyms:

hearty; satisfying; solid; square; substantial

Context example:

four square meals a day

Similar:

wholesome (conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being)

Derivation:

substantialness (the quality of being substantial or having substance)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Of good quality and condition; solidly built

Synonyms:

solid; strong; substantial

Context example:

several substantial timber buildings

Similar:

sound (in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay)

Derivation:

substantialness (the quality of being substantial or having substance)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

Synonyms:

affluent; flush; loaded; moneyed; substantial; wealthy

Context example:

a substantial family

Similar:

rich (possessing material wealth)

 Context examples 

They experienced substantial improvements in immune system function and were growing normally up to two years after treatment.

(Gene therapy restores immunity in infants with rare immunodeficiency disease, National Institutes of Health)

The presence of titanium oxide in the atmosphere of WASP-19b can have substantial effects on the atmospheric temperature structure and circulation.

(Inferno World with Titanium Skies, ESO)

The results suggest that dust-derived nutrients can be vital to mountain ecosystems, even when nutrient supply from bedrock is substantial.

(Study reveals surprising role of dust in mountain ecosystems, National Science Foundation)

“All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It is also unlikely that the fractures formed by stresses from a large impact because there is no evidence on Ceres of impacts substantial enough to generate fractures of that scale.

(Dawn Explores Ceres' Interior Evolution, NASA)

Using NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), an international scientific team discovered that supernovae are capable of producing a substantial amount of the material from which planets like Earth can form.

(Missing Link Between Supernovae and Planet Formation, NASA)

The condition often first emerges in adolescence, a critical developmental time period when an individual experiences substantial changes in their brain structure and chemistry.

(Recalling happy memories during adolescence can reduce risk of depression, University of Cambridge)

The extent of a deletion ranges from the loss of a single nucleotide to the loss of a substantial portion of an entire chromosome.

(Deletion Abnormality, NCI Thesaurus)

A sustained and substantial impairment or disruption of a person's ability to conduct normal life functions for the remainder of his/her life.

(Disability or Permanent Damage, NCI Thesaurus)

NCI studies determined that the mixture lacked substantial antitumor activity.

(Cancell, NCI Thesaurus)