WordGarden.iosuffice
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /səfˈaɪs/
US
- /səˈfaɪs/
Meanings
Verb
to be enough or adequate for a need or purpose
Beyond the definition
Sometimes, just enough is good enough. That's where "suffice" comes in. If a small snack suffices to hold you over until dinner, it means it's enough to keep you from being hungry. It doesn't need to be fancy—just adequate! You might say, "My apology will suffice," meaning your apology is enough to make amends. Think of it as the minimum requirement met.
The word carries a bit of formality and suggests that something just meets the needs, without necessarily exceeding them. If you're trying to decide if a simple solution will work, ask yourself: "Will this suffice?"
Imagine a traveler lost in the desert with only a small canteen of water. While it might not be luxurious, that water could suffice to get them to the next oasis—meaning it's enough to meet their immediate need for survival. That's the heart of what "suffice" means: to be adequate or sufficient to fulfill a requirement, even if it isn't ideal or plentiful.
"Suffice" is primarily used as a verb describing something that is enough ("A simple explanation will suffice"). You will also frequently see it in the set phrase "Suffice it to say," which is used to provide only the most essential information while skipping unnecessary details ("Suffice it to say, I was not pleased").
It's often used when there's a sense of limitation or constraint. Perhaps you don't have the resources for a grand solution, so a simpler one must suffice. Or maybe you're trying to be concise: "To put it briefly, this will suffice."
Unlike words like "abound" or "overflow," which suggest plenty, "suffice" implies just barely meeting the mark. It's about functionality over extravagance, adequacy over abundance. So when something suffices, it gets the job done—even if it's not perfect.
Examples
- 1
Polite response
That will suffice, thank you.
- 2
Lunch
A sandwich and some fruit will suffice for lunch.
- Patternsuffice for + purpose
be enough for that purpose
- 3
Quick update
A short message will suffice to let me know you arrived safely.
- Patternsuffice to do X
be enough to do X
- 4
Repairs
One extra day may not suffice to finish the repairs.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Withholding details
Suffice it to say, nobody wanted to repeat that experience.
- Phrasesuffice it to say
used when you do not want to give all the details
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sufficeverb
Forms
- sufficedpast tenseverb
- sufficesverb
- sufficing-ing formverb