close enough

USAGE SUMMARY

'close enough' is an expression used in written English and it has a wide range of meanings.
It can be used to indicate that two things are almost the same, or that something is almost good enough, or to suggest that something is not perfect but it will do. For example: "Her handwriting was close enough to his that we suspected it was forged".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

China seemed close enough.

The New York Times

But that's close enough.

The New York Times

But it's close enough.

The New York Times - Arts

But they're close enough.

The New York Times - Arts

But it was close enough.

The New York Times - Science

Islington North is close enough.

Independent

Close, but not close enough.

Independent

But close enough to hear.

The New Yorker

"Not close enough.

The New York Times

I'm close enough".

The New York Times - Sports

He was close enough.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close enough" when you want to indicate that something doesn't need to be perfect for the current purpose. It implies a level of acceptance or compromise.

Common error

Avoid using "close enough" excessively, especially in formal or critical contexts where precision is required. Overuse can make your writing sound dismissive or careless.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close enough" functions as an adjective phrase, often modifying an implied noun. It expresses a degree of approximation or sufficiency, indicating that something meets the necessary requirements without being perfectly accurate. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Sports

10%

Arts

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close enough" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something is sufficiently accurate or satisfactory for a given purpose, even if it is not perfect. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, media, and sports contexts, conveying a pragmatic acceptance of approximation. While grammatically correct and widely understood, it should be used judiciously in formal settings where precision is essential. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage and acceptability across diverse written English contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near enough

Emphasizes proximity rather than exactness, similar to "close enough".

sufficient

Indicates that something meets the required standard or need, similar to accepting something that is not perfect.

good enough

Highlights acceptability despite not being ideal, akin to "close enough".

roughly

Signifies an approximate value or state, reflecting the inexactness implied by "close enough".

practically

Implies that something is virtually the same as or equivalent to something else.

almost there

Expresses nearness to a goal or condition, mirroring the sense of approximation in "close enough".

in the ballpark

Indicates being within a reasonable range of accuracy, similar to "close enough".

near completion

Focuses on the state of being nearly finished or achieved, emphasizing the proximity to completion.

virtually

Indicates something is nearly or almost the case, highlighting approximation.

approaching

Describes the action of coming nearer to something in distance or time.

FAQs

How to use "close enough" in a sentence?

Use "close enough" to indicate that something is satisfactory despite not being perfect, such as, "The estimate was "near enough" for our budgeting purposes."

What can I say instead of "close enough"?

You can use alternatives like "good enough", "sufficient", or "near enough" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "close enough" or "closely enough"?

"Close enough" is the idiomatic expression used to indicate approximation or sufficiency. "Closely enough" is grammatically correct but has a different meaning, referring to proximity or intensity.

What does "close enough" mean?

"Close enough" means that something is sufficiently accurate or satisfactory, even if it is not perfect or exact. It implies a level of acceptance or compromise.