suffice

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'suffice' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that something is enough or that something is sufficient for a certain purpose. For example, "The ingredients for the dish should suffice for two servings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If I were manager Jim Leyland I would see this latest incident as a warning, and make sure my top man was as close to 100% as possible before heading into an October where only a World Series title will suffice.

The Guardian - Sport

Suffice to say, the British were somewhat taken aback when they were attacked in the 1990s by French prime minister Edith Cresson, among others, for "social dumping" because they had not signed up to the social chapter at Maastricht.

The Guardian - Opinion

Suffice to say, I shall be voting for freedom.

The Guardian - Opinion

Plenty of column inches have already been devoted to Django Unchained on this site, so suffice it to say the movie still looks like it will kick ass based on what Quentin Tarantino brought to Comic-Con's venerable Hall H on 14 July.

The Guardian - Film

Suffice to say, Celtic have enjoyed every minute, unwilling as they are to admit as much in public.

The Guardian - Sport

Suffice to say that this is a caricature, a stereotype myth which has been popularised by the press and television, and which unites one and all against the horror strolling down the prom at a seaside resort replete with leather jacket, motor bike, and Nazi helmet.

The Guardian

The term "deaf mute" is also outdated and offensive; "deaf", where relevant, will suffice.

The Guardian

Suffice to say, the experience is one that shouldn't be missed.

The Guardian - Travel

Which is extremely unlikely, so a point should suffice for them.

The Guardian - Sport

It may not be the final nail in Wigan's coffin but draws will no longer suffice.

The Guardian - Sport

Suffice to say Hibs have been a lot more confident of ending their Scottish Cup hoodoo at various spells over the past 109 years than they are just now.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suffice", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being deemed sufficient. For example, specify "a brief explanation will suffice" rather than just "that will suffice".

Common error

Avoid using "suffice" in casual conversation; it is more appropriate for formal writing or professional communication. Simpler alternatives like "be enough" are often better suited for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suffice" is as an intransitive verb. It indicates that something is adequate or enough to meet a particular need or purpose. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "suffice" is used to express sufficiency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suffice" is a versatile verb that means to be enough or adequate. Ludwig AI identifies its primary function as expressing that a requirement has been met, often in neutral to formal contexts. While grammatically correct and commonly used, "suffice" is more appropriate for formal writing and professional communication rather than casual conversation. The most common usage patterns are found in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science" sources. Related phrases include "be adequate", "be sufficient", and "be enough", each offering a slightly different shade of meaning. Remember to use "suffice" when you want to convey that something is adequate for a specific purpose, and ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being deemed sufficient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be sufficient

Emphasizes that something is enough to meet a need or achieve a goal.

meet the need

Directly addresses fulfilling a specific requirement or necessity.

be enough

A more general term for meeting a requirement, suitable for everyday use.

be adequate

Focuses on meeting a minimum requirement or standard, suggesting that something is just good enough.

prove adequate

Highlights the demonstration or confirmation of something being sufficient.

serve the purpose

Focuses on fulfilling a specific aim or function.

fill the bill

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is exactly right or suitable for a specific purpose.

answer the purpose

Similar to 'serve the purpose' but can also imply a solution to a problem.

measure up

Suggests that something meets the required standard or expectation.

do the trick

An informal way of saying something is effective or achieves the desired result.

FAQs

How can I use "suffice" in a sentence?

The verb "suffice" means to be enough or adequate. For example, "A short explanation should "be sufficient" to clarify the matter", or "Two examples will "be adequate" for understanding".

What's the difference between "suffice" and "be enough"?

"Suffice" is more formal than "be enough". While both indicate adequacy, "suffice" is typically used in writing or more formal speech, while "be enough" is common in everyday conversation.

What can I say instead of "that will suffice"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "that's "be sufficient"", "that's "be enough"", or "that "fill the bill"".

Is it correct to say "suffices to say"?

No, the correct phrase is "suffice it to say", which introduces a summary or concluding statement without going into full detail. It's used to indicate that further explanation is unnecessary.