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Definitions

substantive

[suhb-stuhn-tiv] / ˈsʌb stən tɪv /
NOUN
nominal
Synonyms


ADJECTIVE
essential; real
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Over time, a more substantive foil for Mbappé could be Yamal, who plays club soccer for Barcelona and with the Spanish national team, the natural rivals for Real Madrid and France, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 15, 2026

And afterwards, all sides spoke warmly of having held substantive discussions.

From BBC Sep. 6, 2026

He gave little indication that anything substantive had changed but said it had been good to restart discussions and that he hoped trilateral talks could begin again.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 6, 2026

American envoys discussed "substantive plans" for next steps to end the Ukraine war during their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said, before they headed to Kyiv on Sunday.

From Barron's Sep. 6, 2026

Refusing to accept no answer for an answer, the students settled into the nonplussed Knight’s house to await a substantive reply.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

In most American idioms their origin from substantives is readily recognizable.

From The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as Set Forth by Wilhelm von Humboldt With the Translation of an Unpublished Memoir by Him on the American Verb by Daniel Garrison Brinton

The adjectives and adverbs undergo the same variations, partaking of the prefixes of the substantives with which they may be conjoined; the nouns form diminutives, thus:— Indoda, a man.

From Sporting Scenes amongst the Kaffirs of South Africa by A. W. (Alfred Wilks) Drayson

From whence you may furnish him with more examples of adjectives with substantives; as white bread, brown bread, green grass, soft cheese, hard cheese, black hat, my black hat, &c.

From The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Duncan Campell A Gentlen, who, tho' Deaf and Dumb, Writes down any Stranger's name at first Sight; by Daniel Defoe

Frequently these substantives refer to parts of the body, and this, in passing, suggests the antiquity of this class of words and their value in comparison.

From The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as Set Forth by Wilhelm von Humboldt With the Translation of an Unpublished Memoir by Him on the American Verb by Daniel Garrison Brinton

The same occurs in Mexican, and the chief termination of substantives, tli, is almost identical in sound with that in the Maipure.

From The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as Set Forth by Wilhelm von Humboldt With the Translation of an Unpublished Memoir by Him on the American Verb by Daniel Garrison Brinton




Vocabulary lists containing substantive


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