enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "enough" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is mainly used as an adverb meaning "in a sufficient amount or degree" or as a determiner (pronoun/adjective) meaning "as much or as many as needed". Example sentence: "I have had enough of your excuses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This result shows that this country has had enough.

The Guardian

"But it was enough".

The New York Times - Sports

They have had enough of career politicians in three parties who don't even understand the problems they face in their everyday lives.

The Guardian

"He has led the Tories with exemplary skill and if, like me, you have been lucky enough to meet him – you know you have been touched by greatness.

The Guardian

But it wasn't enough.

The New York Times

It wasn't enough.

The New York Times

"The whole category has been very euphemistic, or paternalistic even, and we're saying, enough with the euphemisms, and get over it.

The New York Times

And the looming combination of tax increases and spending cuts looks easily large enough to push America back into recession.

The New York Times

That was bad enough.

The New York Times

Will that be enough?

The New York Times

"But not enough".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enough" as an interjection, ensure the tone reflects the context. It can convey frustration, finality, or a simple request to stop.

Common error

Avoid using "enough" incorrectly with countable or uncountable nouns. "Enough" generally precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., "enough water", "enough chairs"). Be careful not to confuse it with "too much" or "too many", which have specific uses for uncountable and countable nouns, respectively.

Linguistic Context

The word "enough" serves a versatile function, acting as a determiner, adverb, pronoun, or interjection. Ludwig AI confirms it as a standard English term with diverse grammatical roles as shown in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "enough" is a highly versatile term in the English language, functioning as a determiner, adverb, pronoun, or interjection, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It primarily serves to indicate sufficiency, adequacy, or cessation, adapting to various contexts from news reports to informal conversations. Its usage is grammatically correct, very common, and demonstrates a neutral register. The examples from Ludwig showcase the word's ability to convey nuanced meanings depending on its role in a sentence. While "enough" is a versatile word, it is important to consider alternatives such as "sufficient", "adequate", or "plenty" to fit specific contexts. Finally, it is important to use it correctly with countable and uncountable nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had enough

Indicates that someone has reached their limit and can't tolerate any more.

sufficient

Replaces "enough" with a formal adjective indicating adequacy.

adequate

Similar to "sufficient", but often implies a minimum level of acceptability.

ample

Describes a quantity that is more than sufficient; abundant.

plenty

Indicates a generous amount, more than just the minimum required.

that's all

Used to indicate the end of something, or that no more is wanted.

that's it

Similar to "that's all", but can also express frustration or finality.

I'm done

Expresses a desire to stop an activity or conversation.

no more

A firm way of saying that something should stop or that no more is wanted.

quit it

An informal way to tell someone to stop doing something.

FAQs

How can "enough" be used in a sentence?

"Enough" can function as a determiner (e.g., "I have "enough money""), an adverb (e.g., "Is it warm "warm enough"?"), a pronoun (e.g., "I've had "had enough""), or an interjection (e.g., "Enough!").

What are some synonyms for "enough"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "enough" include "sufficient", "adequate", "ample", or "plenty".

Is it correct to say "enough of"?

Yes, "enough of" is a valid construction. It's often used to express that one is tired of something (e.g., "Enough of that!") or to indicate a sufficient amount (e.g., "I have "enough of your excuses"").

What is the difference between "enough" and "too much"?

"Enough" indicates a sufficient or adequate amount, whereas "too much" indicates an excessive amount. "I have "enough time"" means I have the necessary time, while "I have "too much time"" means I have more time than needed or desired.