enough

1 of 3

adjective

i-ˈnəf How to pronounce enough (audio)
ē-,
ə-
: occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations
enough food for everyone

enough

2 of 3

adverb

1
: in or to a degree or quantity that satisfies or that is sufficient or necessary for satisfaction : sufficiently
2
: fully, quite
he is qualified enough for the position
3
: in a tolerable degree
she sang well enough

enough

3 of 3

pronoun

: a sufficient number, quantity, or amount
enough were present to constitute a quorum
had enough of their foolishness
often used interjectionally
Choose the Right Synonym for enough

sufficient, enough, adequate, competent mean being what is necessary or desirable.

sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end.

had no competent notion of what was going on

Examples of enough in a Sentence

Adjective Have you got enough money? That's enough talk for now; let's get started. There's enough food for everyone. Adverb I couldn't run fast enough to catch up with her. She's old enough to know better. Are you rich enough to retire? That's good enough for me. Oddly enough, they've never actually met. As if the crowds aren't bad enough, the parking situation is terrible. We can do it if they help enough. Pronoun Have you had enough to eat? He hasn't had much Spanish, but he knows enough to get by. The crowds are enough of a problem as it is, without having to worry about parking as well! It's enough to drive you crazy!
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
In the beginning, the hope was to make enough from the box office to be able to keep making films. Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Justin Downer and his Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions will gather for Selection Sunday hoping their strong body of work over the course of the season is enough to earn an at-large bid to next week’s NCAA Division II Tournament. Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 These simple graphics are enough to make many toddlers excited about brushing their teeth, which is exactly what happened with our tester and her 3-year-old. Jessica Booth, Parents, 10 Mar. 2024 Offer a large tasting pour or even a full glass if there is enough to spare. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 If a construction loan or refinancing your current mortgage isn’t enough, a state program could help lower-income California homeowners build ADUs by covering some of the upfront costs. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Besides, beyond their Bitcoin casino slot machines there is enough selection of table games like blackjack and roulette and live dealer games are found here too. . Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 This year’s deficit means the lakes are missing enough ice to cover an area roughly the size of West Virginia. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Its 16-liter capacity is enough to hold sunglasses, a sun hat, wallet, book, camera, snack, and rain jacket comfortably, with two water bottle pockets on either side. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024
Adverb
Everyone breaks the law, some of us are just smart enough to do it legally. The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 As a child, the house had seemed spacious, ample enough to contain the five lives that resided there. Melanie McCabe, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 However, Quigley said the conditions aren't quite serious enough for the weather service to issue a Red Flag Warning. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 But some said that Scorsese didn’t go far enough in prioritizing Mollie’s perspective, according to NPR. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Funny enough, Peso didn’t actually know Tito very well growing up. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 The result was released in 2021 as Arterton’s first and still best-selling product, the signature garment bag made from 10 oz waxed cotton with a dual-zip opening and holes enough to accommodate three hangers. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The question whether a company’s GHG emissions or climate risk are material enough to be disclosed (or, if indubitably material, have been disclosed enough) will offer rich pickings for activists and the lawyers who feed off them. The Editors, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024 Plus, the main pocket is big enough to hold my phone, wallet, snacks, and sunscreen, and the zippered back pocket is perfect for a credit card, my car keys, and other valuables. Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enough.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ynough, from Old English genōg (akin to Old High German ginuog enough), from ge- (perfective prefix) + -nōg; akin to Latin nancisci to get, Greek enenkein to carry — more at co-

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enough was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near enough

Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enough. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enough

1 of 3 adjective
: equal to the demands or needs : sufficient

enough

2 of 3 adverb
1
: in or to a sufficient amount or degree : sufficiently
ran fast enough
2
: fully sense 1, quite
qualified enough for the job
3
: so as to be moderately good : tolerably
sang well enough

enough

3 of 3 noun
: a sufficient quantity
enough to meet our needs

More from Merriam-Webster on enough

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