noun
Meaning 1
Physical matter; material.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: matter, stuff
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
substance
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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US: /ˈsʌbstəns/
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US: [ˈsʌbstənts]
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ʌbstəns
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CMU ARPABET: S AH1 B S T AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
Physical matter; material.
A form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: matter, stuff
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
The essential part of anything; the most vital part.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
- 1684-1690, Thomas Burnet, Sacred Theory of the Earth This edition is the same in substance with the Latin.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: crux, gist
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
Substantiality; solidity; firmness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
- Some textile fabrics have little substance.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
Material possessions; estate; property; resources.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
- a man of substance
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
Drugs (illegal narcotics)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
- substance abuse
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dope, gear
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
Ousia, essence; underlying reality or hypostasis in the philosophical sense.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, lifestyle, philosophy, religion, sciences, theology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To give substance to; to make real or substantial.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- DNA is the substance of our genes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: matter, part, portion, component part, component, constituent
Narrower terms: body substance, protoplasm, living substance, chemistry, material, stuff, phlogiston, mixture, atom, chemical element, element, activator, substrate, medium, fluid, volatile, essence
noun
Meaning 10
a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: matter
Narrower terms: food, nutrient, philosopher's stone, philosophers' stone, elixir, allergen, assay, pyrogen, pyrectic, hydrocolloid, adulterant, adulterator, propellant, propellent, denaturant, inhibitor, ferment, agent, carcinogen, digestive, fomentation, fuel, lubricant, lubricator, lubricating substance, lube, humectant, inoculant, inoculum, jelly, leaven, leavening, refrigerant, lysin, poison, toxicant, poisonous substance, chemical irritant, antigen, ligand, metabolite, vehicle
noun
Meaning 11
the idea that is intended
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- What is the meaning of this proverb?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: meaning
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: idea, thought
Narrower terms: semantics, significance, import, implication, tenor, strain, undertone, undercurrent, reference, denotation, extension, connotation
noun
Meaning 12
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the gist of the prosecutor's argument
- the heart and soul of the Republican Party
- the nub of the story
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: kernel, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: content, cognitive content, mental object
Narrower terms: bare bones, hypostasis, quiddity, haecceity, quintessence, stuff
noun
Meaning 13
what a communication that is about something is about
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: message, content, subject matter
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: communication
Narrower terms: body, corker, reminder, request, petition, postulation, memorial, latent content, subject, topic, theme, digression, aside, excursus, divagation, parenthesis, meaning, significance, signification, import, nonsense, bunk, nonsensicality, meaninglessness, hokum, drivel, garbage, acknowledgment, acknowledgement, refusal, information, info, guidance, counsel, counseling, counselling, direction, commitment, dedication, approval, commendation, disapproval, respects, disrespect, discourtesy, interpolation, insertion, statement, wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness, opinion, view, instruction, proposal, offer, offering, submission, entry, narrative, narration, story, tale, promotion, publicity, promotional material, packaging, sensationalism, shocker
noun
Meaning 14
considerable capital (wealth or income)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he is a man of means
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: means
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: capital
Narrower terms: pocketbook, wherewithal
noun
Meaning 15
material of a particular kind or constitution
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the immune response recognizes invading substances
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: physical entity
History
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English substance, from Old French substance, from Latin substantia (“substance, essence”), from substāns, present active participle of substō (“exist”, literally “stand under”), from sub + stō (“stand”). Displaced native Old English andweorc.
Across languages
Translations
197 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Albanian: substancë — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Albanian: lëndë — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Arabic: مَادَّة (mādda) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Armenian: նյութ (nyutʻ) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Asturian: sustancia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Azerbaijani: maddə — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Bashkir: матдә (matdə) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Belarusian: рэ́чыва (réčyva) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Belarusian: субста́нцыя (substáncyja) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Bengali: পদার্থ (podartho) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Bulgarian: вещество́ (veštestvó) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Bulgarian: субста́нция (substáncija) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Burmese: ဒြပ် (drap) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Catalan: substància — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Chinese Cantonese: 物質 /物质 (mat6 zat1) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Chinese: 物質 /物质 (zh-min-nan) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Chinese Mandarin: 物質 /物质 (wùzhì) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Wu Chinese: 物質 /物质 (8veq-tseq) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Czech: látka — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Danish: substans — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Danish: masse — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Dutch: substantie — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Esperanto: substanco — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Estonian: aine — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Finnish: aine — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Finnish: materia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- French: substance — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Galician: substancia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Georgian: ნივთიერება (nivtiereba) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- German: Substanz — physical matter; material — see also matter
- German: Stoff — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Greek: ουσία (ousía) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Ancient Greek: οὐσία (ousía) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Ancient Greek: ὕλη (húlē) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Ancient Greek: ὑπόστασις (hupóstasis) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Hebrew: חומר \ חֹמֶר (khómer) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Hindi: पदार्थ (padārth) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Hindi: वस्तु (vastu) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Hungarian: anyag — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Hungarian: tartalom — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Icelandic: efni — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Indonesian: zat — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Irish: mianach — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Irish: damhna — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Italian: sostanza — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Japanese: 物質 (busshitsu) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Kazakh: зат (zat) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Khmer: វត្ថុ (vŏətthoʼ) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Korean: 물질 (muljil) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Northern Kurdish: made — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Kyrgyz: зат (zat) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Lao: ສະສານ (sa sān) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Latin: substantia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Latin: materia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Latvian: viela — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Lithuanian: medžiaga — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Macedonian: супстанција (supstancija) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Malay: bahan — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Malay: zat — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Māori: matū — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Māori: pūmatū — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Māori: kiko — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Mongolian: бодис (bodis) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Mongolian: ᠪᠣᠳᠠᠰ (bodas) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Norwegian: substans — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Norwegian: masse — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Old English: andweorc — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Pashto: ماده (mādá) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Persian: ماده (mâdde) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Polish: substancja — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Portuguese: substância — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Romanian: substanță — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Russian: вещество́ (veščestvó) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Russian: субста́нция (substáncija) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Russian: мате́рия (matérija) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Serbo-Croatian: супста̀нца — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Serbo-Croatian: supstànca — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Slovak: látka — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Slovene: snov — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Spanish: sustancia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Spanish: substancia — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Swedish: ämne — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Swedish: substans — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Tajik: модда (modda) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Tatar: матдә (matdä) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Telugu: పదార్థము (padārthamu) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Thai: สสาร (sà-sǎan) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Turkish: madde — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Turkmen: madda — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Ukrainian: речовина́ (rečovyná) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Ukrainian: субста́нція (substáncija) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Urdu: مادہ (māda) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Uyghur: ماددا (madda) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Uzbek: modda — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Vietnamese: vật chất — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Yiddish: מאַטעריע (materye) — physical matter; material — see also matter
- Armenian: էություն (ēutʻyun) — essential part
- Asturian: sustancia — essential part
- Bulgarian: същност (sǎštnost) — essential part
- Catalan: substància — essential part
- Chinese Mandarin: 實質 /实质 (shízhì) — essential part
- Czech: podstata — essential part
- Czech: substance — essential part
- Danish: substans — essential part
- Danish: hovedindhold — essential part
- Finnish: ydin — essential part
- Finnish: substanssi — essential part
- Finnish: olemus — essential part
- French: substance — essential part
- French: fond — essential part
- Galician: substancia — essential part
- Georgian: არსი (arsi) — essential part
- German: Substanz — essential part
- Greek: ουσία (ousía) — essential part
- Ancient Greek: οὐσία (ousía) — essential part
- Hebrew: תוכן (tókhen) — essential part
- Hindi: विषय वस्तु (viṣay vastu) — essential part
- Hungarian: lényeg — essential part
- Hungarian: szubsztancia — essential part
- Japanese: 骨子 (kosshi) — essential part
- Korean: 본질 (bonjil) — essential part
- Korean: 실질 (siljil) — essential part
- Latin: substantia — essential part
- Māori: tino — essential part
- Norwegian: substans — essential part
- Polish: istota — essential part
- Portuguese: substância — essential part
- Romanian: substanță — essential part
- Russian: су́щность (súščnostʹ) — essential part
- Scottish Gaelic: susbaint — essential part
- Spanish: sustancia — essential part
- Spanish: substancia — essential part
- Swedish: substans — essential part
- Thai: ใจความ (jai-kwaam) — essential part
- Thai: แก่นสาร — essential part
- Turkish: maya — essential part
- Ottoman Turkish: مایه (mâye) — essential part
- Finnish: rakenne — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Galician: substancia — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Galician: cerna — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Galician: miolo — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Korean: 실체 (silche) — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Korean: 본질 (bonjil) — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Spanish: enjundia — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Spanish: fuste — substantiality; solidity; firmness
- Bulgarian: имущество (imuštestvo) — material possessions
- Chinese Mandarin: 資產 /资产 (zīchǎn) — material possessions
- Chinese Mandarin: 財產 /财产 (cáichǎn) — material possessions
- Danish: formue — material possessions
- Finnish: varat — material possessions
- Finnish: varallisuus — material possessions
- French: biens — material possessions
- Galician: bens — material possessions
- German: Substanz — material possessions
- Greek: περιουσία (periousía) — material possessions
- Ancient Greek: οὐσία (ousía) — material possessions
- Hindi: संपत्ति (sampatti) — material possessions
- Hindi: सम्पत्ति (sampatti) — material possessions
- Hindi: संपदा (sampdā) — material possessions
- Hungarian: vagyon — material possessions
- Korean: 자산 (jasan) — material possessions
- Korean: 재산 (jaesan) — material possessions
- Norwegian: formue — material possessions
- Polish: majątek — material possessions
- Portuguese: riqueza — material possessions
- Romanian: substanță — material possessions
- Russian: вес (ves) — material possessions
- Sanskrit: सम्पत्ति (sampatti) — material possessions
- Spanish: sustancia — material possessions
- Spanish: substancia — material possessions
- Swedish: resurs — material possessions
- Turkish: mal — material possessions
- Bulgarian: вещество (veštestvo) — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Galician: substancia — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Georgian: ნივთიერება (nivtiereba) — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Hindi: पदार्थ (padārth) — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Irish: damhna — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Māori: pūmatū — a form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties
- Chinese Mandarin: 物質 /物质 (wùzhì) — drugs
- Chinese Mandarin: 毒品 (dúpǐn) — drugs
- Finnish: aineet — drugs
- Galician: substancia — drugs
- German: Substanz — drugs
- Greek: ουσίες (ousíes) — drugs
- Hindi: मादक पदार्थ (mādak padārth) — drugs
- Hungarian: szer — drugs
- Korean: 마약 (mayak) — drugs
- Norwegian: narkotika — drugs
- Norwegian Bokmål: narkotika — drugs
- Norwegian Bokmål: stoff — drugs
- Norwegian Bokmål: substans — drugs
- Polish: narkotyk — drugs
- Portuguese: substância — drugs
- Romanian: drog — drugs
- Romanian: narcotic — drugs
- Russian: вещество́ (veščestvó) — drugs
- Swedish: substans — drugs
Real reading context