suffice

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verb suf·fice \ sə-ˈfīs also -ˈfīz \

Definition of suffice

sufficed; sufficing

intransitive verb

1 :to meet or satisfy a need :be sufficient

a brief note will suffice

—often used with an impersonal it

suffice it to say that they are dedicated, serious personalities
—Cheryl Aldridge

2 :to be competent or capable

transitive verb

:to be enough for

a few more should suffice them

—

sufficer

noun

See suffice defined for English-language learners

See suffice defined for kids

Examples of suffice in a Sentence

She's also decided that she can't countenance her mother, who gives Jane cash but demands that her daughter save every receipt or package to prove that she didn't spend the money on drugs. Suffice it to say, their short-lived truce is over. —Alec Klein, A Class Apart: Prodigies, Pressure, and Passion Inside One of America's Best High Schools, 2007
Thirteen years later, I still don't know exactly what to make of this letter. It goes without saying that a simple thank-you note, especially nearly a year late, would have sufficed. —Scott Turow, Atlantic, December 2005
But what of the meteoroids that come from other large objects in the solar system? To escape from Venus or the Earth, matter must be ejected at a velocity of at least seven miles a second; on Mars, three miles a second will suffice. —Donald Goldsmith, Natural History, September 2003
No, you don't need to write a letter. A phone call will suffice.
Her example alone should suffice to show that anything is possible.

Recent Examples of suffice from the Web

But if the ghosts of turn-of-the-century glamour—its heyday—aren’t enough to fulfil your preppy dreams and needs, their croquet lawn, putting green, and shuffleboard court should suffice.

— madeleine luckel, Vogue, "Six Amazing Last-Minute Labor Day Trips," 24 Aug. 2017
Gary Cohn and Jared Kushner could pass 70 percent of Trump’s agenda tomorrow, but if it is not accompanied by tweets, blogs, and bomb-throwing aimed at traditional norms and conventions, their efforts will not suffice.

— david l. bahnsen, National Review, "A Profound Tension Point for Conservatives," 21 Aug. 2017
My prediction for the season is included in the special section, but suffice to say there isn't much margin for error.

— OregonLive.com, "11-on-11: What was learned from Oregon's third week of preseason practice," 21 Aug. 2017
There are rolling carts, backpack-style frames, and yokes—but a simple strap still suffices.

— pippa biddle, The Atlantic, "Why It’s Better to Carry Weight on Your Head," 18 Aug. 2017
That strategy sufficed for Trump to win last year, barely, over a highly unpopular Democrat, Hillary Clinton.

— david lauter, latimes.com, "The 24% president," 18 Aug. 2017
Sorry guys, no awards so this will have to suffice.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "RHONJ Alum Caroline Manzo Shares Sweet New Photos of Her 'Beautiful Little Shore Baby' Granddaughter Marchesa," 16 Aug. 2017
Just pointing would've sufficed, but Jon wanted to make physical contact with Daenerys.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "All the Signs Jon and Daenerys Are Definitely Getting Together on 'Game of Thrones'," 7 Aug. 2017
For years, a keyboard and mouse sufficed to interact with a PC.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft Paint may be doomed: Why it's wrong, and what you can do about it," 24 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suffice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of suffice

Middle English, from Anglo-French suffis-, stem of suffire, from Latin sufficere to provide, be adequate, from sub- + facere to make, do — more at do

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First Known Use: 14th century

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suffice Synonyms

Synonyms

do, serve

Related Words

answer, suit; assuage, content, quench, sate, satiate, satisfy

SUFFICE Defined for English Language Learners

suffice

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verb

Definition of suffice for English Language Learners

: to be or provide as much as is needed : to be sufficient

SUFFICE Defined for Kids

suffice

play

verb suf·fice \ sə-ˈfīs \

Definition of suffice for Students

sufficed; sufficing

:to satisfy a need :be enough

I'm hungry, but just a snack will suffice.

Learn More about suffice

See words that rhyme with suffice Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for suffice Spanish Central: Translation of suffice Nglish: Translation of suffice for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of suffice for Arabic speakers

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suffice

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sufficer

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Examples of suffice in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of suffice

suffice Synonyms

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SUFFICE Defined for English Language Learners

suffice

Definition of suffice for English Language Learners

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