Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To be of importance, significance, or consequence to someone; to have relevance or meaning for a specific person or group. It indicates that something is personally or emotionally significant.

Usage

• The verb "matter to" is used to express that a subject is important to a specific object (a person or entity). It is followed by the person or group to whom the subject is important.
• It is commonly used in statements and questions to emphasize personal relevance.
• Structure: Subject + matter(s) + to + [person/group].

Examples

• Verb:
  • Your opinion really matters to me. (I consider your opinion very important.)
  • Does the environment matter to the company's leadership? (Is the environment important to the leaders?)
  • Little acts of kindness matter to people who are struggling. (These acts are significant for those in difficulty.)

Advanced Usage

• "What matters to...": A common phrase used to inquire about or state someone's priorities.
  • We need to understand what matters to our customers. (We need to know what is important to our customers.)
• Negation for emphasis: Using "doesn't/don't matter to" to state a lack of importance.
  • His rude comments don't matter to me at all. (His comments are of no consequence to me.)

Variants and Related Words

• Matter (verb, intransitive): To be of importance, often used without "to" in a more general sense.
  • It doesn't matter. (It is not important.)
• Matter (noun): A subject, situation, or substance.
  • We need to discuss an important matter.

Synonyms

• Be important to: Have significance for.
• Mean something to: Have value or emotional weight for someone.
• Concern: Be relevant or of interest to.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Matter to" is itself a phrasal verb. Other phrasal verbs with "matter" are not standard.)

Related Idioms

• As if it mattered: Said to imply that something is treated as important when it likely is not.
  • He gave his advice as if it mattered.
• Make it matter: To give something significance or importance.
  • You have to make your vote matter.

Verb

1. be of importance or consequence
   • This matters to me!