Mattering: meaning, definitions and examples

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mattering

 

[ ˈmætərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

importance, relevance

Mattering refers to the state of being significant or important. When something matters, it has value or relevance to a person or situation. This term can describe both tangible and intangible concepts, such as emotions, decisions, or moral principles. Understanding what matters to oneself or others is key to navigating relationships and priorities in life.

Synonyms

be important, be significant, count, mean

Examples of usage

  • What really matters in life is happiness.
  • Your opinion matters to me.
  • Every vote matters in an election.

Translations

Translations of the word "mattering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 importância

🇮🇳 महत्व

🇩🇪 Bedeutung

🇮🇩 pentingnya

🇺🇦 значення

🇵🇱 znaczenie

🇯🇵 重要性

🇫🇷 importance

🇪🇸 importancia

🇹🇷 önem

🇰🇷 중요성

🇸🇦 أهمية

🇨🇿 význam

🇸🇰 dôležitosť

🇨🇳 重要性

🇸🇮 pomembnost

🇮🇸 mikilvægi

🇰🇿 маңызы

🇬🇪 მნიშვნელობა

🇦🇿 əhəmiyyət

🇲🇽 importancia

Etymology

The word 'matter' originates from the Latin word 'materia,' which means 'substance' or 'matter.' Initially, it was used to describe physical substances in the medieval period. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass abstract ideas of importance and significance. In the 20th century, the verb form 'mattering' emerged, reflecting a shift toward a more subjective understanding of significance, emphasizing personal and emotional relevance. This evolution allows for a broader interpretation beyond tangible entities, highlighting the human experience of what we consider meaningful.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,497, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.