suffice
Americanverb (used without object)
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suffices,
present (3rd person singular)
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sufficed,
past participle, past
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sufficing
present participle
verb (used with object)
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suffices,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sufficed,
past participle, past
-
sufficing
present participle
verb
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to be adequate or satisfactory for (something)
-
(takes a clause as object) let us say no more than that; I shall just say that
Usage
What does suffice mean? To suffice is to be just enough, or adequate, as in I can fold the laundry later, so taking the clothes out of the dryer will suffice. When something suffices, it might not meet all your needs, but it will meet at least a minimum of them. For example, you might feel somewhat rested when you get seven hours of sleep but really well rested when you get nine hours. Nine hours of sleep might be most desirable, but seven hours suffices. Example: It could be better, but I suppose this will suffice.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sufficesimple
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sufficessimple
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have sufficedperfect
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has sufficedperfect
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am sufficingprogressive
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are sufficingprogressive
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is sufficingprogressive
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have been sufficingperfect progressive
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has been sufficingperfect progressive
Past
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sufficedsimple
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had sufficedperfect
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was sufficingprogressive
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were sufficingprogressive
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had been sufficingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of suffice
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sufficen, from Latin sufficere “to put under, supply, be capable,” from suf- suf- + -ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make” ( see also do 1); replacing Middle English suffisen, from Old French, from Latin, as above
Explanation
To suffice is to be enough, in either quality or quantity. It may not be gourmet all the time, but if your food is healthy, it will suffice. The word suffice comes from a combination of the Latin words sub ("under") and facere ("make") that together mean "meet the need of." This need is usually the bare minimum — no leftovers, nothing fancy. The common phrase "Suffice it to say" means "I'll just say" or "All that needs to be said is...."
Vocabulary lists containing suffice
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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"Easter, 1916" by W.B. Yeats
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The Book Thief
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But in the document, the EU admits the "existing rules do not suffice", since there is no "outright ban on common problematic features".
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
That might be a little heavy-handed when a simple talking-to, or a vote-whipping operation that’s more on top of things, could suffice.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
Judge Michael O'Grady KC said: "The word 'wicked' is an old fashioned word, but there are times when no other word will suffice."
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Goldstein’s defense team said prison time wasn’t appropriate, arguing that a lengthy period of probation and restitution obligations would suffice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won’t they, Neville Longbottom?”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
There's a six-word answer that suffices until this time next week - we might, but we don't know - although I might indulge you in some of the wildest suggestions a bit later on.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
But military experts say that domestic production now suffices to ensure the front line wouldn’t imminently collapse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
I could go on, but it suffices to say that “The Osbournes” sits near the root system of celebreality’s Tree of Life, for richer or poorer.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2025
It’s not quite as effective when used without misoprostol, but it suffices as a backup option.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2024
A very small initial nonuniformity suffices to produce substantial condensations of matter later on.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Count us among those who think the red card was excessive; a yellow card would have sufficed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Instead, it sufficed that they possess an "inner beard," the strength and insight that grows within a man and is represented, but not necessarily embodied, by the beard that grows on his surface.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2024
This simple conversion also sufficed to activate thousands of genes associated with an inflammatory gene program that allows neutrophils to combat invading bacteria.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 14, 2024
"A tin of paint and a tin of WD40 would have sufficed - now they're saying it costs too much for upkeep."
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024
Whoa there, slow down lady, a simple “it’s inappropriate” would have sufficed.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
It was the more plentiful elements that were usually found first, relatively simple experiments sufficing to confirm their existence.
From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2021
That is what the grant of Article 3 life tenure offers a man: the ability to do precisely what he decides to do, with no amount of political pressure sufficing to change that.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2021
Tied up in the respect and ubiquity afforded to these men is the mononym, or a single word sufficing for a person’s whole name.
From Slate ● Oct. 24, 2020
Their literary wars are more like the battles of boys in the woods, waged wholly in imaginary terms, with cries of “I got you!” sufficing to declare victory.
From Slate ● May 28, 2015
They were Englishmen, and this, we suppose, is an all sufficing answer.
From The Heath Hover Mystery by Bertram Mitford
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