substance

/ˈsʌbstəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌbstəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsəb-stən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

substance — noun

  • substancesingular
  • substancesplural

1. Any physical material found in solid, liquid, or gaseous form that can be identi

1.名詞B1
釋義

Any physical material found in solid, liquid, or gaseous form that can be identified by its chemical makeup — table salt, cooking oil, and glass are all examples.

例句

Gabriel wore gloves to handle the toxic substance in the laboratory.

collocation: toxic substance / hazardous substance

The soil contained a sticky black substance that smelled like oil.

adjective + substance describing physical properties

同義詞
  • matter

    broader; refers to anything that has mass and occupies space

  • material

    emphasises what something is made of for a practical purpose

  • element

    refers to a pure chemical substance that cannot be broken down

文法句型

a/an + [adjective] + substance

[adjective] + substance

用法筆記

Countable when naming or enumerating specific types: 'a dangerous substance', 'several chemical substances'. Uncountable when talking about physical matter in a general way: 'The substance was thick and dark.' The uncountable use is less common than the countable one.

常見錯誤

❌Wood is a good building substance.
✅Wood is a good building material.
💡'material' is used for things you make objects from; 'substance' refers to a type of matter defined by composition.

2. An illegal drug or a drug that is considered harmful and is restricted or banned

2.名詞B2
釋義

An illegal drug or a drug that is considered harmful and is restricted or banned by law.

例句

Aarav was arrested for selling controlled substances near a school.

collocation: controlled substance

Emily works at a clinic that helps people recover from substance abuse.

collocation: substance abuse

同義詞
  • drug

    the everyday term; more common when context already makes the illegal nature clear

  • narcotic

    formal and more specific; often used in legal contexts for heroin, cocaine, etc.

文法句型

controlled + substance

illegal + substance

substance + abuse/use/dependence

用法筆記

This sense is commonly found in legal, medical, and policy contexts. The word 'substance' alone can imply the illegal meaning only in context — phrases like 'controlled substance' or 'substance abuse' make it explicit. In everyday conversation, 'drugs' is more common.

常見錯誤

❌She was caught with a substance.
✅She was caught with an illegal substance.
💡Without 'illegal' or 'controlled', the sentence is ambiguous and could refer to any physical matter.

3. The central idea or core meaning contained in a spoken statement, written passag

3.名詞B2
釋義

The central idea or core meaning contained in a spoken statement, written passage, or argument — the truly important content once you set aside minor details.

例句

I did not catch every detail, but I understood the substance of her speech.

the substance of + speech/argument/report

The substance of the report was that the company needed to cut costs immediately.

同義詞
  • gist

    more informal and conversational; the general sense without precision

  • essence

    more abstract; the fundamental nature that makes something what it is

  • core

    emphasises the central, non-negotiable part

  • meat

    informal; the substantial or important content

反義詞
  • detail

    the small, specific pieces of information rather than the main idea

文法句型

the substance of + [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Uncountable — never 'a substance' in this sense. The phrase 'the substance of [something]' is the most common pattern. 'Substance' here contrasts with 'details', 'style', or 'form'.

常見錯誤

❌The substance of the book were the main themes.
✅The substance of the book was the main themes.
💡'substance' is uncountable here and takes a singular verb.

4. The extent to which something has genuine importance, a solid factual basis, or

4.名詞C1
釋義

The extent to which something has genuine importance, a solid factual basis, or serious meaning — rather than being shallow, empty, or merely decorative.

例句

The newspaper article had little substance and was mostly based on rumours.

collocation: have little / no substance

Aaron's argument lacked substance, so the committee did not take it seriously.

collocation: lack substance

同義詞
  • weight

    emphasises influence or impact rather than factual basis

  • significance

    focuses on importance or meaning rather than factual solidity

  • validity

    narrower; specifically about being based on truth or logic

反義詞

文法句型

lack + substance

have + substance

without + substance

give substance to + [noun]

用法筆記

Often used with 'lack', 'have', 'give', or 'without'. The phrase 'without substance' indicates something is empty or meaningless. Distinguish from sense 3 (MAIN POINT): sense 3 is about what the core content IS, while this sense is about whether it has any weight or seriousness at all.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting had a substance.
✅The meeting had substance.
💡uncountable here, so no article.

5. Wealth, valuable possessions, or property; also refers to a person who has money

5.名詞C1
釋義

Wealth, valuable possessions, or property; also refers to a person who has money and social influence.

例句

The old family lost its substance during the economic crisis of the 1990s.

formal register: 'lost its substance' meaning lost wealth

Wren married a man of substance who owned several successful businesses.

pattern: a man/woman of substance

同義詞
  • wealth

    the everyday term; broader and more common

  • fortune

    emphasises a large amount of money or valuable assets

  • property

    narrower; refers specifically to land, buildings, or possessions

反義詞
  • poverty

    the state of being poor and lacking material resources

文法句型

a person/man/woman of substance

of substance (as a post-modifier)

用法筆記

This sense is formal and somewhat dated in modern English. It is most commonly found in the fixed phrase 'a man/woman of substance'. In modern usage, 'wealth' or 'property' is preferred for the material meaning.

常見錯誤

❌He is a substance person.
✅He is a person of substance.
💡'substance' is not used as a pre-modifying adjective.