substantial
gb/sʌbstˈænʃəl/ us/sʌbstˈænʃəl/
B1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
large in amount or degree
Big in amount, size, or importance.
Usage pattern:
a substantial [amount/number/increase]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'substantial' with 'sustainable'; they are unrelated—'sustainable' means able to continue over time.
Synonyms
considerable (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal in tone.)
|
significant (Often used when the size or amount is important or meaningful.)
Antonyms
small (Opposite in terms of size or amount.)
|
insignificant (Opposite in terms of importance or impact.)
Collocations
substantial amount
|substantial number
|substantial increase
|substantial evidence
|substantial difference
Themes
business
|daily life
|measurement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The project required a substantial investment of time and money.
- There has been a substantial increase in sales this year.
- We found substantial evidence to support the claim.
- She made a substantial contribution to the charity.
- The company suffered a substantial loss last quarter.
Learner examples
- He paid a substantial amount for the car.
- The store had a substantial number of customers today.
- We made a substantial change to the plan.
- There is a substantial difference between the two phones.
- They gave a substantial donation to the school.
adjective
B2
property
2
having real importance or value
Important and having value or meaning.
Usage pattern:
a substantial [achievement/benefit/change]
Synonyms
meaningful (Emphasizes having significance or importance.)
|
important (General term for being of value or significance.)
Antonyms
trivial (Opposite meaning; lacking importance.)
|
minor (Opposite in scale or significance.)
Collocations
substantial benefit
|substantial achievement
|substantial progress
|substantial improvement
Themes
daily life
|education
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This award is a substantial achievement for her career.
- We made substantial progress toward our goals.
- The policy changes will bring substantial benefits to the community.
- He played a substantial role in the negotiations.
- Their research had a substantial impact on the field.
Learner examples
- This is a substantial achievement for the team.
- We saw substantial progress this month.
- The change will give us substantial benefits.
- She made a substantial improvement in her work.
- He had a substantial role in the project.
adjective
formal
B2
property
3
having physical substance or form
Strong and well-made; not weak or light.
Usage pattern:
a substantial [building/structure/object]
Synonyms
solid (Emphasizes strength and stability.)
|
sturdy (Suggests durable and well-constructed.)
Antonyms
fragile (Easily broken or damaged; opposite of sturdy.)
|
flimsy (Weak and poorly made.)
Collocations
substantial building
|substantial structure
|substantial meal
Themes
architecture
|materials
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The house was built on a substantial foundation.
- They served a substantial meal to the guests.
- We need a more substantial desk for the office.
- The bridge's supports are substantial and secure.
- She wore a coat made of substantial fabric for winter.
Learner examples
- The table is substantial and heavy.
- We ate a substantial meal after work.
- The building has a substantial roof.
- He bought a substantial wooden chair.
- The wall is substantial and will last many years.
Grammar
Dictionary form
substantial
IPA
GB/sʌbstˈænʃəl/
US/sʌbstˈænʃəl/
Syllables & stress
sub - stan - tial (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (stan)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: substantial
Word family
Core family
substance
noun B1
substantially
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
insubstantial
adjective
Advanced or less common
Expressions
a substantial amount of
1/ə sʌbstˈænʃəl əmˈaʊnt əv/
fixed phrase
a large quantity of uncountable matter/resources
A large amount of something that cannot be counted one by one.
Examples
- He spent a substantial amount of money on his new car.
- We need a substantial amount of time to finish this project.
a substantial number of
1/ə sʌbstˈænʃəl nˈʌmbɚ əv/
fixed phrase
a large quantity of countable items
A large amount of things that can be counted.
Examples
- A substantial number of people attended the meeting.
- There were a substantial number of errors in the report.
in substantial agreement
1/ˈɪn sʌbstˈænʃəl əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
formal
mostly agreeing on important points
Agreeing on most important things, even if there are small differences.
Examples
- The two sides are in substantial agreement on the main issues.
- We are in substantial agreement about the project's goals.