substance

[ suhb-stuhns ]
/ ˈsʌb stəns /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR substance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Idioms for substance

    in substance,
    1. concerning the essentials; substantially.
    2. actually; really: That is in substance how it appeared to me.

Origin of substance

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin substantia substance, essence (literally, that which stands under, i.e., underlies), equivalent to sub- sub- + -stant- (stem of stāns, present participle of stāre to stand) + -ia -ia (see -ance)

synonym study for substance

1. See matter.

OTHER WORDS FROM substance

sub·stance·less, adjective

Words nearby substance

subspecific, subspinale, subspontaneous, subst., substage, substance, substance abuse, substance abuse disorder, substance p, substandard, substantia

Words related to in substance

roughly, virtually, approximately, practically, essentially, mostly, considerably, heavily, largely, extensively, materially, really, nearly, basically, most, about, closely, well-nigh, approaching, circa

British Dictionary definitions for in substance

substance
/ (ˈsʌbstəns) /

noun

Derived forms of substance

substanceless, adjective

Word Origin for substance

C13: via Old French from Latin substantia, from substāre, from sub- + stāre to stand

Medical definitions for in substance

substance
[ sŭb′stəns ]

n.

That which has mass and occupies space; matter.
A material of a particular kind or constitution.

Idioms and Phrases with in substance (1 of 2)

in substance
1

In reality, essentially, as in The Archbishop of Salzburg was in substance a temporal authority as well. [Late 1300s]

2

In essence, basically, as in I don't remember all the details, but in substance this was the plan. [Late 1400s]

Idioms and Phrases with in substance (2 of 2)

substance

see in substance; sum and substance.