# suffice

/səˈfaɪs/ (US) · /səfˈaɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suffice
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to be enough

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to be enough or to be good enough for what you need.

For teachers: to be adequate or sufficient for a purpose; to meet the requirements of a situation.

- You do not need to write a long report; a short email will suffice.
- While a brief summary might suffice for a general audience, the board of directors will require a comprehensive financial breakdown.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'suffice it to say', which introduces a summary of a longer story.

### 2. to satisfy someone

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

to be enough to make someone happy or satisfied.

For teachers: to satisfy or content a person; to be equal to their specific demands or wants.

- No amount of money could suffice him after he lost his home.
- The modest inheritance did not suffice the ambitious heir, who had expected a much larger portion of the estate.

Usage: In this sense, the verb is transitive and takes a direct object representing the person being satisfied.

## Examples

- A small snack will suffice until dinner.
- While a brief apology might suffice for a small mistake, this error requires a formal written explanation.
- In many academic contexts, a simple citation will suffice to acknowledge a source, but more controversial claims often require extensive supporting evidence.

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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.