was only enough for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was only enough for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a certain amount or quantity was insufficient for a particular purpose or need. Example: "The food we prepared was only enough for half of the guests who arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"There was only enough for one".

The New Yorker

"A lot of times there was only enough for my kids, and I'd go to bed hungry," she says.

The New York Times

Wyatt survived though, and hit the Deadman with the Sister Abigail, but it was only enough for a narrow two-count.

Independent

Yet that apparent superior ability was only enough for Steve Bruce's team to finish fourth, 10 points off Burnley and six adrift of Middlesbrough.

The Guardian - Sport

A Hoffmann-LaRoche sales representative gave them a carton of pills on the spot, but it was only enough for double therapy for seven children for three months.

The New York Times

Aged 19, Clementine says he left London with £60 to his name, "and that was only enough for the ticket to Paris.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Now there's only enough for three against three".

The New York Times

"A week ago I had enough to buy €200, now it's only enough for €150".

The Guardian

For example, the refractive index manipulation is only enough for a certain special class of invisibility cloak called carpet cloaks.

MIT Technology Review

"It is only enough for three days – so for the other 27 days I would go hungry," said Kibrom.

The Guardian

I go out for bread, and just get one bag with eight pieces, which is only enough for a single meal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs or more descriptive adjectives to specify how close the amount was to being sufficient (e.g., "barely enough", "nearly sufficient").

Common error

Avoid using "was only enough for" when something was clearly insufficient. The phrase implies a close margin, so exaggeration can mislead your reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was only enough for" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a specific amount or quantity was at the lower limit of adequacy. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0.02%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was only enough for" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something barely met a requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across a variety of sources, with a higher frequency in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While generally neutral in tone, the phrase's formality can shift based on the surrounding vocabulary. Consider alternatives like "was just sufficient for" or "was merely adequate for" to fine-tune the intended degree of limitation. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear about what the limited amount was meant to cover to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was just sufficient for

This alternative emphasizes the bare minimum needed to meet a requirement.

was merely adequate for

Highlights the mediocrity or barely acceptable nature of the sufficiency.

was hardly sufficient for

Indicates that the amount was close to not being enough.

did not quite suffice for

A more formal way of saying it wasn't completely adequate.

only barely covered

Implies a minimal level of coverage or fulfillment.

was limited to

Focuses on the restriction or boundary of what was available.

scarcely met the needs of

Highlights the lack of abundance and potential unmet needs.

only partially satisfied

Suggests that some needs were not met completely.

was not really ample for

Emphasizes the lack of generosity or abundance.

only scraped by

A more colloquial way of saying something barely managed to be sufficient.

FAQs

How can I use "was only enough for" in a sentence?

You can use "was only enough for" to indicate that a certain amount or quantity was insufficient for a particular purpose or need. For example: "The funding "was only enough for" minimal improvements".

What are some alternatives to "was only enough for"?

Alternatives include "was just sufficient for", "was merely adequate for", or "was hardly sufficient for", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was only sufficient for" instead of "was only enough for"?

Yes, "was only sufficient for" is a correct and more formal alternative to "was only enough for". Both phrases indicate that something barely met a requirement or need.

What's the difference between "was only enough for" and "was more than enough for"?

"Was only enough for" implies a minimal level of sufficiency, whereas "was more than enough for" indicates an abundance or surplus. They are antonyms with opposite meanings.