# substantial

/səbˈstænʃəɫ/ (US) · /səbstˈænʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/substantial
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. large in amount or size

adjective · CEFR B2

large in size, value, or importance.

For teachers: considerable in importance, value, degree, or amount.

- The company made a substantial profit this year after cutting costs.
- The research team received a substantial grant from the government, allowing them to expand their study into renewable energy sources over the next decade.

### 2. solidly built

adjective · CEFR B2

strong and well-made.

For teachers: firmly constructed; sturdy and unlikely to break.

- They live in a substantial stone house that was built over a century ago.
- The architect insisted on using substantial timber beams to ensure the roof could withstand the weight of heavy winter snowfall.

### 3. filling and nourishing

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a meal that is large and makes you feel full.

For teachers: providing enough nourishment to be filling; satisfying in quantity and quality.

- After a long day of hiking, we sat down to a substantial dinner of beef stew.
- The hotel provides a substantial breakfast buffet, designed to sustain guests who plan to spend the entire day exploring the city on foot.

### 4. real or actual

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

real and existing in the physical world, rather than just an idea.

For teachers: having a physical existence; not imaginary or illusory.

- The police need substantial evidence before they can make an arrest.
- The philosopher argued that while ideas are powerful, they lack the substantial nature of the physical objects we interact with daily.

## Examples

- The company made a substantial profit this year.
- After the storm, the local council had to provide substantial funding to repair the damaged bridge.
- The legal team presented substantial evidence that challenged the witness's credibility, leading the judge to reconsider the initial ruling.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.