no matter
318
1.6
- idiom
:
no importa
- Spring will bring out the green in the lowlands, no matter the fire.
- no matter how much
- no matter how well
- no matter what age
And I do this every day no matter what, without fail.
- And I do this every day no matter what, without fail.
- We get your scented candles no matter what the smell is.
- But if I tell her it's happening no matter what, then it happens.
- A single speaker could tell anything, no matter how complex it was.
- Yeah, it feels like it, it perseveres no matter what, you know?
- And it really should be sort of your last option no matter what is going on.
- And we support Israel no matter what almost all the time.
Examples
-
But no matter how hard I prayed, it never happened.
-
Students enjoyed these activities because they could do well no matter what their skill levels.
Academic text (1998) -
Life is hard no matter what you do.
-
Oh, I am beautiful no matter what they say.
-
Because no matter what you do to it, it still has its worth.
-
Your mother wants you to call her no matter what time of day it is.
Fiction book (1994) -
No matter what it takes, I'll figure out a way!
-
I always prosper no matter where I am or what is going on.
-
Besides, you know I've got your back no matter what.
-
You should stay focused on your goals no matter what challenges you face.
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 may come from older English where matter meant 'a thing'. Saying no matter was like saying 'no thing will change', so it now means 'regardless' or 'no difference'.