Enough — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb pronoun noun /i-ˈnəf/

Meaning & Definition of Enough

Enough (adjective)

  1. occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations

Enough (adverb)

  1. in or to a degree or quantity that satisfies or that is sufficient or necessary for satisfaction, sufficiently
  2. fully, quite
  3. in a tolerable degree

Enough (pronoun)

  1. a sufficient number, quantity, or amount —often used interjectionally

Enough (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction

    "the elevator is big enough to hold everyone"

    similar: adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently, suitably
    related: acceptably, decently, fairly, moderately, passably, tolerably, meetly, properly, rightly, seemly, agreeably, gratifyingly, satisfyingly, abundantly, amply, aplenty, optimally, plenteously, plentifully, commensurately, proportionately
    opposite: inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily

  2. to some degree or extent

    "I can play the piano well enough, but I have no hope for a musical career"

    similar: fairly, kind of, kindly (chiefly Southern), like, moderately, more or less, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, something, somewhat, sort of, a bit, after a sort, a little, a mite, a tad, a touch, of sorts, to a degree
    related: acceptably, decently, passably, tolerably, little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, vaguely, half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly, partway
    near: awfully, beastly, deadly, especially, exceedingly, exceptionally, extremely, frightfully, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, mightily, mortally, particularly, surpassingly, terribly, very, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially

  3. to a full extent or degree

    "I think we're prepared enough—we just lack the will to actually do it"

    similar: all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, entire, entirely, even, exactly, fast, flat, full, fully, heartily, out, perfectly, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well, wholly, wide, all the way, at length, down the line, down to the ground, for fair, in whole, to bits, to pieces, to the hilt, to the max
    related: absolutely, categorically, cold, downright, hands down, plain, stone, stone-cold, unqualifiedly, basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, more or less, mostly, overall, predominantly, predominately, primarily, principally, substantially, abundantly, copiously, generously, greatly
    opposite: half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly
    near: barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially, approximately, roughly, somewhat

Enough (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in sufficient, adequate

    similar: adequate, sufficient, abounding, blooming, overflowing, plump, replete, rich, rife, teeming, wealthy, fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, luxuriant, prodigal, prolific, extra, supernumerary, surplus, copious, fulsome, lavish, profuse, abundant, ample, aplenty, bounteous, bountiful, comfortable, cornucopian, galore, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plenty
    opposite: bare, minimal, scant, spare, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting, meager, stingy, skimpy, least, minimum, light, slight, small, barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive

Enough (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in adequacy, sufficiency

    similar: adequacy, sufficiency, fund, pool, stock, supply, excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus, hoard, stockpile
    opposite: absence, lack, need, needfulness, want, deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, dearth, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness

Related Entry: Sure-enough (adjective)

Sure-enough is a different word from Enough. The synonyms below are for sure-enough, not for enough.

  1. being exactly as appears or as claimed

    "a sure-enough ghost town that is a relic of the gold rush days"

    similar: authentic, bona fide, certifiable, certified, dinkum (Australian & New Zealand), echt, genuine, honest, pukka, real, right, true, for real
    related: actual, historical, original, lawful, legal, legitimate, identifiable, recognizable, verifiable, proven, substantiated, validated, verified, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, undeniable, undoubted, unmistakable, unquestionable, veritable, very, accurate, correct, proper, pure, unadulterated, unalloyed
    opposite: bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, mock, phony, pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, unreal
    near: artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, simulated, synthetic, unnatural, concocted, fabricated, manufactured, deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading

  2. existing in fact and not merely as a possibility

    "the inventor showed that he did have a sure-enough death ray"

    similar: actual, concrete, de facto, effective, existent, factual, genuine, real, true, very
    related: attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable, believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable, authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world, absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible, authoritative, certifiable, certified
    opposite: conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical
    near: alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized, chimerical, fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary, fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic, abstract, symbolic, unreal, virtual

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Enough

The most common words with a similar meaning to Enough:

Chiefly Southern: kindly
Chiefly dialect: plumb
adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently, suitably, fairly, kind of, like, moderately, more or less, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, something, somewhat, sort of, all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, entire, entirely, even, exactly, fast, flat, full, fully, heartily, out, perfectly, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Enough

Words with the opposite meaning of Enough:

inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily, half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly, bare, minimal, scant, spare, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting, meager, stingy, skimpy, least, minimum, light, slight, small, barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful

Related Words for Enough

acceptably, decently, passably, tolerably, meetly, properly, rightly, seemly, agreeably, gratifyingly, satisfyingly, abundantly, amply, optimally, plenteously, plentifully, commensurately, proportionately, little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, vaguely, half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly, partway

Near Antonyms of Enough

awfully, beastly, deadly, especially, exceedingly, exceptionally, extremely, frightfully, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, mightily, mortally, particularly, surpassingly, terribly, very, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly

Origin & Etymology of Enough

Middle English ynough, from Old English genōg (akin to Old High German ginuog enough), from ge- (perfective prefix) + -nōg; akin to Latin nancisci to get, Greek enenkein to carry co-

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Enough

Words & Phrases Containing Enough

enough is enough, enough said, sure-enough, sure enough, be kind enough, fair enough, leave well enough alone

Frequently Asked Questions about Enough

What does "Enough" mean?

"Enough" means occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations. As an an adjective, an adverb, a pronoun and a noun, it is defined as: occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Enough"?

Other words for "Enough" include adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently, suitably, fairly, kind of, kindly and like. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Enough" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Enough"?

There are 168 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Enough". Common alternatives include adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently, suitably, fairly, kind of, kindly, like, moderately and more or less.

What is the opposite of "Enough"?

Antonyms of "Enough" include inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily, half, halfway, incompletely, part and partially. Near antonyms include awfully, beastly, deadly and especially.

How do you use "Enough" in a sentence?

Examples of "Enough" in a sentence: "the elevator is big enough to hold everyone"; "I can play the piano well enough, but I have no hope for a musical career"; "I think we're prepared enough—we just lack the will to actually do it".

Is "Enough" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Enough" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a pronoun and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Enough" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Enough" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Enough"?

"Enough" is pronounced /i-ˈnəf/.