enough

[ ih-nuhf ]

adjective

1. adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire:

   enough water;

   noise enough to wake the dead.

   Synonyms: ample

pronoun

1. an adequate quantity or number; sufficiency.

adverb

1. in a quantity or degree that answers a purpose or satisfies a need or desire; sufficiently.

   Synonyms: reasonably, adequately, amply

2. fully or quite:

   ready enough.

interjection

1. (used to express impatience or exasperation):

   Enough! I heard you the first time.

enough

/ ɪˈnʌf /

determiner

1. 1. sufficient to answer a need, demand, supposition, or requirement; adequate

      enough cake

   2. ( as pronoun )

      enough is now known

2. that's enough!
   that will do: used to put an end to an action, speech, performance, etc

adverb

1. so as to be adequate or sufficient; as much as necessary

   you have worked hard enough

2. not used with a negative very or quite; rather

   she was pleased enough to see me

3. (intensifier)

   oddly enough

   surprisingly enough

4. just adequately; tolerably

   he did it well enough

Word History and Origins

Origin of enough¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English enogh, Old English genōh; cognate with German genug, Gothic ganohs, Old Norse nōgr; akin to Old English geneah “it suffices,” Sanskrit naśati “(he) reaches”

Word History and Origins

Origin of enough¹

Old English genōh; related to Old Norse gnōgr, Gothic ganōhs, Old High German ginuog

Idioms and Phrases

• fair enough
• had enough
• leave well enough alone
• not enough room to swing a cat
• sure enough
• (enough) to wake the dead

Example Sentences

Grindr currently has twelve ‘tribes,’ and for some people this just is not enough.

From The Daily Beast

The atmosphere on campuses has gotten repressive enough that comedian Chris Rock no longer plays colleges.

From The Daily Beast

He added: “People say he deserves his day in court… Do we have enough time?”

From The Daily Beast

But if you have a hearing and you prove that someone is mature enough, well then that state interest evaporates.

From The Daily Beast

Luckily enough I have this dedicated flat that is just along from my house that I go to every day.

From The Daily Beast

And although we gabbled freely enough, MacRae avoided all mention of the persons of whom I most wished to hear.

From Project Gutenberg

The sailors sometimes use it to fry their meat, for want of butter, and find it agreeable enough.

From Project Gutenberg

Just corporeal enough to attest humanity, yet sufficiently transparent to let the celestial origin shine through.

From Project Gutenberg

A distinguished-looking man, evidently vested with authority, bustled forward and addressed him, civilly enough.

From Project Gutenberg

And sure enough when Sunday came, and the pencil was restored to him, he promptly showed nurse his picture.

From Project Gutenberg