substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 
1
a
: consisting of or relating to substance
b
: not imaginary or illusory : real, true
c
: important, essential
2
: ample to satisfy and nourish : full
a substantial meal
3
a
: possessed of means : well-to-do
b
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
earned a substantial wage
4
: firmly constructed : sturdy
a substantial house
5
: being largely but not wholly that which is specified
a substantial lie
substantial noun
substantiality
səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē
noun substantially
səb-ˈstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē
adverb substantialness
səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- big
- consequential
- earth-shattering
- earthshaking
- eventful
- historic
- important
- major
- material
- meaningful
- momentous
- monumental
- much
- significant
- tectonic
- weighty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A substantial number of people commute to work each day. Activities like that pose a substantial risk of injury. She purchased her tickets at a substantial discount. Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake. I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.
Recent Examples on the Web But Jha echoed what many infectious disease experts are warning; with so many COVID precautions lifted, a substantial number of flu infections and deaths are expected to return. 
Kay Lazar, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 Even a substantial number of Republican women would cast that vote. Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 For the first time since the concept of a soccer complex was introduced in Mobile a decade ago, the City Council is ponying up a substantial amount of money for it. al, 6 Sep. 2022 Miami paid a substantial amount for Hill, and his darting speed will be a challenge for New England to defend. Tony Holm, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 Even if, with Covid-19 worries dissipating, a substantial number of people enter the labor force in the months ahead and take unfilled jobs, there still would be a very high level of job openings. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 If a substantial number of minor leaguers sign, the MLBPA could ask MLB to recognize the minor leaguers as unionized without a vote, and negotiations on a contract could start. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 And the league has already given a substantial number of tickets away to its sponsors, as part of their deal in supporting the league. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The oil and gas industry has a substantial number of unused permits to drill onshore. Allan Marks, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Kay Lazar, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 Even a substantial number of Republican women would cast that vote. Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 For the first time since the concept of a soccer complex was introduced in Mobile a decade ago, the City Council is ponying up a substantial amount of money for it. al, 6 Sep. 2022 Miami paid a substantial amount for Hill, and his darting speed will be a challenge for New England to defend. Tony Holm, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 Even if, with Covid-19 worries dissipating, a substantial number of people enter the labor force in the months ahead and take unfilled jobs, there still would be a very high level of job openings. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 If a substantial number of minor leaguers sign, the MLBPA could ask MLB to recognize the minor leaguers as unionized without a vote, and negotiations on a contract could start. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 And the league has already given a substantial number of tickets away to its sponsors, as part of their deal in supporting the league. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The oil and gas industry has a substantial number of unused permits to drill onshore. Allan Marks, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial səb-ˈstan-shəl
1
: large in amount
a substantial improvement
2
: important sense 1
a substantial difference
3
: firmly constructed
Substantial walls surround the castle.
4
: abundant
a substantial meal
5
: prosperous sense 1
a substantial farmer
6
: made up of or relating to substance : material
Legal Definition
substantial
adjective
sub·stan·tial səb-ˈstan-chəl
1
a
: of or relating to substance
b
: not illusory : having merit
failed to raise a substantial constitutional claim
c
: having importance or significance : material
a substantial step had not been taken toward commission of the crime W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.2
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
identification of serious and substantial failure to perform U.S. Code
compare de minimis U.S. Codesubstantial
adjective
1
as in significant
having great meaning or lasting effect substantial changes to the school dress code that made a lot of people unhappy Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- significant
- major
- important
- historic
- big
- much
- meaningful
- monumental
- exceptional
- tectonic
- momentous
- material
- distinguished
- consequential
- remarkable
- weighty
- pivotal
- outstanding
- eventful
- earthshaking
- serious
- notable
- noteworthy
- earth-shattering
- decisive
- distinctive
- strategic
- outstanding
- prominent
- valuable
- great
- worthy
- impressive
- seminal
- crucial
- worthwhile
- fatal
- key
- earnest
- sincere
- critical
- central
- fateful
- essential
- eminent
- famous
- grave
- prestigious
- heavy
- illustrious
- vital
- preeminent
- notorious
- renowned
- noble
- all-important
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- small
- little
- minor
- negligible
- slight
- insignificant
- trivial
- inconsiderable
- unimportant
- trifling
- inconsequential
- paltry
- petty
- worthless
- obscure
- unknown
- anonymous
- nameless
- uncelebrated
2
as in considerable
of a size greater than average of its kind the amount he inherited was quite substantial, so he quit his job and set out to see the world Synonyms & Similar Words
- considerable
- large
- sizable
- big
- huge
- great
- handsome
- tidy
- enormous
- excessive
- tremendous
- massive
- sizeable
- oversize
- colossal
- vast
- gigantic
- voluminous
- staggering
- hefty
- ample
- outsize
- bulky
- largish
- goodly
- immense
- oversized
- outsized
- extravagant
- grand
- major
- hulking
- spacious
- husky
- astronomical
- biggish
- appreciable
- mammoth
- boxcar
- plentiful
- stupendous
- prodigious
- gargantuan
- monumental
- humongous
- mountainous
- inordinate
- super
- copious
- abundant
- whopping
- cosmic
- exorbitant
- titanic
- extreme
- monolithic
- elephantine
- gross
- cavernous
- herculean
- monstrous
- walloping
- humungous
- galactic
- astronomic
- vasty
- jumbo
- thick
- heroic
- bumper
- whacking
- leviathan
- immoderate
- cyclopean
- pharaonic
- heroical
- supersized
- cosmical
- king-sized
- Brobdingnagian
- hellacious
- commodious
- capacious
- super-duper
- roomy
- king-size
- Bunyanesque
- Himalayan
- fat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- small
- little
- smallish
- puny
- tiny
- minuscule
- dinky
- dwarf
- infinitesimal
- undersize
- undersized
- dwarfish
- shrimpy
- microscopic
- diminutive
- bantam
- slight
- microscopical
- miniature
- teensy
- teeny
- little bitty
- wee
- mini
- slender
- minute
- thin
- pygmy
- slim
- petite
- teensy-weensy
- teeny-weeny
- microminiature
- pocket-sized
- pocket-size
- pint-sized
- Lilliputian
- pint-size
- half-pint
3
as in physical
relating to or composed of matter the Land of Oz turned out to be a world of dreams, even less substantial than a rainbow Synonyms & Similar Words
- physical
- concrete
- tangible
- material
- visible
- noticeable
- appreciable
- solid
- apparent
- discernible
- bodily
- objective
- massive
- perceptible
- detectable
- observable
- sensible
- corporeal
- hefty
- discernable
- phenomenal
- embodied
- heavy
- palpable
- corporal
- carnal
- weighty
- bulky
- fleshly
- seeable
- ponderous
- touchable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- immaterial
- nonmaterial
- nonphysical
- insubstantial
- unsubstantial
- intangible
- incorporeal
- imperceptible
- disembodied
- invisible
- thin
- formless
- ethereal
- tenuous
- bodiless
- spiritual
- discarnate
- impalpable
- vaporous
- metaphysical
- insensible
- unbodied
- diaphanous
- airy
- unnoticeable
- wispish
- gossamery
4
as in sizable
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention there's been a substantial increase in attendance at girls' volleyball games ever since the start of their winning streak Synonyms & Similar Words
- considerable
- significant
- sizable
- tremendous
- major
- huge
- good
- substantive
- big
- sizeable
- massive
- great
- respectable
- handsome
- goodly
- healthy
- largish
- tidy
- enormous
- biggish
- hefty
- voluminous
- colossal
- immense
- outsize
- gigantic
- bulky
- prodigious
- monumental
- outsized
- oversize
- mammoth
- astronomical
- hulking
- whopping
- monstrous
- herculean
- titanic
- elephantine
- oversized
- jumbo
- bumper
- astronomic
- king-sized
- king-size
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- negligible
- nominal
- inconsiderable
- insignificant
- insubstantial
- inconsequential
- marginal
- trivial
- slight
- small
- meager
- trifling
- unimportant
- paltry
- piddling
- puny
- petty
- meagre
- little
- tiny
- minute
- picayune
- measly
- smallish
- undersize
- undersized
- diminutive
- picayunish
- pocket
- miniature
- bitty
- pygmy
- pocket-sized
- pocket-size
- pint-sized
- pint-size