# enough

/iˈnəf/ (US) · /ɪnˈʌf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enough
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sufficient amount

determiner · CEFR A1

as much as you need or want.

For teachers: functioning as a determiner to indicate a sufficient quantity of a noun.

- Do we have enough eggs to make a cake for the party?
- The rescue team did not have enough supplies to remain on the mountain for another night, forcing them to retreat before the storm arrived.

Usage: Placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. to a sufficient degree

adverb · CEFR A1

to the necessary degree or level.

For teachers: functioning as an adverb to indicate that a quality or action reaches a required threshold.

- Is the water warm enough for you, or should I add more hot water?
- The candidate did not speak clearly enough for the audience at the back of the hall to hear the policy proposals.

Usage: Placed after the adjective or adverb it modifies.

### 3. a sufficient number or amount

pronoun · CEFR A2

the amount or number that is needed.

For teachers: functioning as a pronoun representing a sufficient quantity or number of something previously mentioned.

- I've had enough to eat, thank you; the meal was delicious.
- While some critics argued for further investment, the board decided that enough had been spent on the project already.

### 5. quite or very

adverb · CEFR B2

used after an adjective to mean 'quite' or 'fairly'.

For teachers: used as a post-modifier to express a moderate or high degree of a quality, often with a pragmatic nuance of irony or emphasis.

- The instructions were simple enough, but I still managed to make a mistake.
- The results were promising enough to justify a second round of clinical trials, though the researchers remained cautious about the long-term data.

## Examples

- I have had enough to eat.
- We have enough of the basic supplies to last through the weekend without visiting the store.
- While some argued for further expansion, the committee decided that the current progress represented enough to justify a pause in funding.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.