as in weighing
to be of importance
she believes that doing well in school really does matter
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Recent Examples of mattering
Lajos’s transparent skin, initially so intriguing, does not end up mattering or meaning anything.
—
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Good morning from Boston, There are moments that end up mattering.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Once wins and losses stop mattering, the attention turns to how those players are progressing.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Good morning from Boston, There are moments that end up mattering.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Once wins and losses stop mattering, the attention turns to how those players are progressing.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mattering
Verb
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Missouri faces a legal battle over a referendum to redraw one key district even before weighing changes under the Supreme Court’s decision.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.—
Hali Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After 33 games, there is nothing to choose between City and Arsenal in points (70) or goal difference (+37), meaning City have edged their way to the top on goals scored — bagging 66 goals compared to Arsenal’s 63.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Neuroscientists have found that these events at dendrites can allow even single neurons to perform complex computations — meaning that dendrites are the reason why a single neuron can have the same amount of computational power as a deep artificial neural network.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mattering. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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