a substantial meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial meal" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a meal that is large or filling. For example, "After a long day of hiking, we stopped for a substantial meal at a nearby restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Three dishes make a substantial meal.

The New York Times

An empty stomach: Eating a substantial meal before drinking alcohol will slow the absorption process.

Columbia University

Served with both plain white and brown rice, each dish made for a substantial meal.

The New York Times

Richly hybrid, it defines a new kind of rasa, and is a substantial meal on its own.

The New York Times - Arts

The British record is 21lb 5ozs (9.67 kg) so potentially a you could land a substantial meal.

The Guardian

New Year's Eve is the time to cook a substantial meal with extravagant ingredients and splash out a bit on at least one bottle of good bubbly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Visitors can also sample the delights of a fresh jelly (young) coconut, sugar-cane juice or a more substantial meal from a roadside snackette.

The Guardian - Travel

Then you'll have filling grains to complement a nutritious dinner, turn into a grain salad or beef up a regular salad into a more substantial meal.

HuffPost

The actors, in a series of charged symbolic moments, each address a rather substantial meal, eating slowly in the glare of a spotlight, against a background of absolute silence.

The New York Times

For a more substantial meal, breakfast quiches cost $4.50 a slice; panini -- for example, with fresh mozzarella, sliced plum tomatoes and pesto on homemade focaccia -- are $6.25.

The New York Times

The soup can be left whole and chunky as a fiery sauce to form part of a more substantial meal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the importance of eating before drinking alcohol, using the phrase "a substantial meal" emphasizes the need for a filling meal to slow down alcohol absorption.

Common error

Don't use "a substantial meal" to only mean a large quantity of food. It implies a meal that provides significant nourishment and satisfaction, not just volume.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial meal" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "meal". As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is employed to describe a meal that is both filling and nutritious, as seen in the examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

17%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a substantial meal" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a filling and nutritious meal. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usability across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Academia. When using the phrase, remember that it implies more than just size; it suggests nourishment and satisfaction. Consider alternatives like "a large meal" or "a hearty meal" depending on your specific intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major meal

Replaces "substantial" with "major", emphasizing the importance of the meal.

a sizeable meal

Replaces "substantial" with "sizeable", highlighting the considerable size of the meal.

a massive meal

Replaces "substantial" with "massive", highlighting the large size of the meal.

a serious meal

Substitutes "substantial" with "serious", implying the meal is filling and important.

a tremendous meal

Replaces "substantial" with "tremendous", which conveys a sense of the meal's impressive qualities.

a remarkable meal

Replaces "substantial" with "remarkable", focusing on the meal's quality or memorability.

a large meal

Uses "large" instead of "substantial", focusing on the amount of food.

a huge meal

Replaces "substantial" with "huge", emphasizing the excessive quantity of food.

a big meal

Replaces "substantial" with "big", emphasizing the quantity of food.

a great meal

Uses "great" instead of "substantial", indicating a positive experience with the meal.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantial meal" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantial meal" to describe a filling and nutritious meal, such as "Eating "a substantial meal" before a long journey is always a good idea".

What can I say instead of "a substantial meal"?

You can use alternatives like "a large meal", "a filling meal", or "a hearty meal depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a substantial meal" or "a substancial meal"?

"A substantial meal" is the correct spelling. "Substancial" is a misspelling of "substantial".

What's the difference between "a substantial meal" and "a light snack"?

"A substantial meal" is a large, filling meal intended to satisfy hunger for an extended period, while "a light snack" is a small portion of food consumed between meals to curb hunger temporarily.