no matter
∞
2.2
- idiom
:
no importa
- You should always be honest, no matter how difficult the truth may be.
- no matter how much
- no matter how good
- no matter how hard
They're wrong no matter what and it sucks.
- They're wrong no matter what and it sucks.
- So just being grateful no matter where you are.
- and get after it no matter what you face,
- Like you're still hosting no matter what you do.
- But you will have this no matter what country you live in.
- They feel entitled to their pleasure, no matter whom it harms.
- So you can make sure you're beating inflation no matter what you're purchasing.
- So, But no, no matter what we did, we were still Yanks.
- So there is still a pattern, no matter what else happens.
Examples
-
One is to treat its employees the same, no matter where they are employed in Canada.
Academic text (1990) -
I am beautiful no matter what they say.
-
Take that step every day, no matter what you are facing.
-
Now, no matter what you say, you are not going to get in trouble.
-
So there is still a pattern, no matter what else happens.
-
You stay alive, no matter what occurs!
-
These probabilities are the same no matter where I started from.
-
No matter how much hate there is between you and him, you're still connected.
-
Even Zapp has a home, no matter how much time he spends away from it.
Academic text (1999) -
I told Brianna, you know, no matter what, don't quit.
Synonyms
660
3.1
Despite something that might stop you
98
3.3
To say something is true despite what was just said
56
3.9
Whatever else happens, the fact remains true or will still happen
51
2.8
No matter what, this is true or will happen
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'regardless/it makes no difference' is directly derivable from combining 'no' (negation) with 'matter' (importance) — essentially equivalent to 'it does not matter'. This compositional negation + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English usage, so a B1 learner who knows both words should readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
No matter likely started as a short way to say 'no matter what', using no and matter to mean 'no thing'. This picture of 'nothing that happens will change the result' is why we use it to mean 'whatever happens' or 'regardless'.