suffice

verb suf·fice \ sə-ˈfīs also -ˈfīz \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: suffice in a Sentence

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

Some high-fives and a slow jog sufficed for Hoffman, who shot 67 and tied for 12th at 6-under 282.

— jesse smithey, Detroit Free Press, "Rough Masters finish has Rory McIlroy still chasing career Grand Slam," 8 Apr. 2018
But with the glimmer of holiday decor packed away and those extra hours of sunshine still several weeks off, perfect lighting can be elusive, and a single statement fixture simply won't suffice.

— jessica cumberbatch anderson, ELLE Decor, "The 3 Types Of Lighting Every Room Needs," 22 Jan. 2016
When administrative data offer no alternative, household surveys, warts and all, will have to suffice.

— The Economist, "Plunging response rates to household surveys worry policymakers," 24 May 2018
Musical highlights were too numerous to detail but suffice to say that Salt-N-Pepa with DJ Spinderella set a Kentucky Derby party standard that will be tough to beat.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Barnstable Brown Gala celebrates its 30th Kentucky Derby party in style," 5 May 2018
One Direction fans are still holding out for a complete reunion of the legendary boy band, but until then, cheeky Twitter conversations between members will have to suffice.

— abby jones, Billboard, "Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne Teased Each Other On Twitter, and Fans Are Losing It," 23 Apr. 2018
But the answer need not come from bogus history; real history will suffice.

— robert d. atkinson, The New Republic, "The Myth of the Roosevelt “Trustbusters”," 4 May 2018
Being vetted by one state — typically a health care provider’s home state — or by Medicare should suffice, and that information should be shared with other states.

— nick manetto, STAT, "Medicaid’s unnecessary barriers delay care for children with complex needs," 1 May 2018
Windows 10 Home will suffice for the majority of individual or family users.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Who needs Windows 10 Pro: 5 reasons to upgrade," 29 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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