sufficient

sufficient — adjective

1. Present in a quantity or degree that meets what a situation, task, or requiremen

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Present in a quantity or degree that meets what a situation, task, or requirement demands.

Example

The scholarship provided sufficient funds to cover Mira's tuition and books.

collocation: sufficient funds

One week was not sufficient for Theo to finish editing the documentary.

pattern: sufficient for + noun + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • sufficient evidence
  • sufficient funds
  • sufficient time
  • sufficient reason
  • sufficient quantity
  • sufficient supply
  • sufficient resources
Synonyms
  • enough

    Less formal and more common in everyday speech; 'sufficient' is preferred in official or academic writing.

  • adequate

    Suggests the amount is just barely satisfactory, whereas 'sufficient' is neutral about whether the amount leaves a margin.

  • ample

    Means more than enough, with room to spare; 'sufficient' does not imply abundance.

Antonyms
  • insufficient

    Direct opposite; means not enough for the purpose.

  • inadequate

    Emphasises that something falls short of a required standard or quality.

Grammar Patterns

sufficient + noun

be + sufficient + for + noun/pronoun

be + sufficient + to + verb

be + sufficient + for + noun/pronoun + to + verb

Common Mistakes

Do you have sufficient of water?
Do you have sufficient water?
Unlike 'enough,' 'sufficient' is used directly before a noun without 'of.'
The food was sufficient enough for everyone.
The food was sufficient for everyone.
'Sufficient' already means 'enough'; adding 'enough' is redundant.
This is a sufficient big house.
This is a sufficiently big house.
Before an adjective, use the adverb 'sufficiently,' not the adjective 'sufficient.'

2. Relating to having eaten as much food as one wants, so that no more is desired.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Relating to having eaten as much food as one wants, so that no more is desired.

Example

No more noodles for me, thanks — I have had sufficient.

informal: 'have had sufficient' after a meal

After two bowls of soup, Esteban announced that he had had sufficient.

Common collocations
  • had sufficient
  • have had sufficient
  • already had sufficient
Synonyms
  • full

    More common in casual conversation; 'sufficient' is slightly more polite when declining food.

  • satisfied

    Focuses on the feeling of contentment after eating, whereas 'sufficient' focuses on the quantity eaten.

Antonyms
  • hungry

    Opposite state; still wanting or needing food.

  • still hungry

    Phrase used when more food is desired after a meal.

Grammar Patterns

have had sufficient

be + sufficient (after eating)

Usage Note

This sense is used informally after a meal to indicate that one has eaten enough. It almost always appears in the phrase 'have had sufficient' and cannot be used before a noun (e.g., ❌ 'a sufficient dinner'). Unlike sense 1 (ENOUGH FOR A PURPOSE), this meaning only applies to food consumption.

Common Mistakes

I am sufficient.
I have had sufficient.
For the 'ate enough' meaning, the correct structure is 'have had sufficient,' not 'be sufficient.'
I ate a sufficient dinner.
I have had sufficient (to eat).
This sense cannot be placed before a noun; it only works in the predicate pattern 'have had sufficient.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a quantity that meets some need, but they differ in formality and emphasis. 'Enough' is the most natural choice in everyday conversation ('Do we have enough chairs?'), while 'sufficient' is more typical in formal, official, or academic contexts ('The applicant must show sufficient proof of income'). 'Adequate' often carries a tone of bare-minimum acceptability — the amount works, but just barely ('The heating provides adequate warmth, though the room is still chilly'). 'Ample' sits at the opposite end of the scale, meaning more than enough with a comfortable margin ('We have ample time before the flight'). A quick test: if you would say 'just about enough,' choose 'adequate'; if you stress that the amount is comfortably extra, choose 'ample'; for neutral statements in speech or writing, choose 'enough' or 'sufficient' depending on how formal you need to be.

enough ↗adequate ↗ample ↗sufficient ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • barely sufficient
  • just sufficient
  • more than sufficient
  • quite sufficient
  • perfectly sufficient

Prepositions

  • sufficient for
  • sufficient in

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'sufficiens' (present participle of 'sufficere' meaning 'to supply, to be enough'), formed from 'sub-' (up to) + 'facere' (to do, to make). The word entered English via Old French 'suffisent' in the 14th century.