Substantial
/səbˈstænʃəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Substantial describes something that is big, important, or real. It can be used for things like money, size, ideas, or evidence. When something is substantial, it is not small or weak—it has enough strength, size, or value to matter.
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See It in Action
Large in amount or size
- •She made a substantial donation to the charity.
- •The house has a substantial garden with many trees.
- •We need a substantial amount of food for the party.
Important or meaningful
- •There is substantial evidence to support the claim.
- •He made a substantial improvement in his work.
- •The company showed substantial growth last year.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "substantial" like "big" or "important," but with a feeling of strength or real value, not just size
- ✓Picture a large, solid rock that you can hold—heavy and real—this is substantial, not light or small like a pebble
- ✓It's the feeling when you get a big, helpful gift or a strong reason that cannot be ignored
- ✓Sounds like "sub-STAN-shul" → imagine a "sub" sandwich that is very big and full, not a small snack
- ✓Think of a strong building that stands firm in wind and rain—that's substantial, not a weak tent
- ✓NOT like "small" or "tiny" (little size), "substantial" means enough to be noticed or important
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "weak"—substantial means strong or serious, not light or unimportant
- ✓NOT like "little" money or "few" ideas—substantial means a lot or very meaningful
Try Other Words
- •Significant: important or large enough to be noticed (Use when you want to emphasize importance more than size)
- •Considerable: fairly large in size or amount (Use when focusing on quantity or size)
- •Major: very large or important (Use when something is one of the most important parts or events)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "sub-" (under, near) + "stant-" (stand) + "-ial" (adjective suffix) → meaning roughly "standing under or strong"
- •Etymology: From Latin "substantia," meaning "essence" or "being," related to something that has real existence or importance
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe the essence or real part of something; later used for things that are large or important
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe large amounts, strong reasons, or important facts in everyday and formal language
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be substantial but not visible? How do we know it is important or real?
•How do you decide if an amount or idea is substantial enough to pay attention to?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company made a substantial ___ in profits last year, showing strong success.
2.She gave a substantial ___ to the charity, helping many people in need.
3.There is substantial ___ that the new medicine works well in patients.
4.Unlike a small gift, a substantial gift can ___ a big difference in someone's life.
5.To solve the problem, we need substantial ___ of time and effort.
6.When evidence is substantial, it usually ___ the truth of a statement.
7.The project requires a substantial ___ of resources, not just a few tools.