sufficiently

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   To the degree that is needed for a purpose, and no less.

   Grammar: Usually before an adjective or participle: sufficiently clear.

   Patterns

   • sufficiently adjective
   • sufficiently to do something

   The water was sufficiently warm for swimming.

   She was not sufficiently trained to lead the trip.

   The evidence was sufficiently clear to convince the jury.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   To an adequate amount that suits the situation, with enough effort or care.

   Grammar: Can follow a verb: he recovered sufficiently.

   Patterns

   • recover sufficiently
   • explain sufficiently

   He had recovered sufficiently to go back to work.

   The rules were not sufficiently explained.

Common combinations

sufficiently clear

The instructions were sufficiently clear.

sufficiently large

The room is sufficiently large for twenty people.

sufficiently recovered

He is sufficiently recovered to travel.

not sufficiently

The data was not sufficiently reliable.

sufficiently to

She was sufficiently calm to speak.

Synonyms and how they differ

enough

Enough is the ordinary word and follows the adjective, while sufficiently comes before it and sounds more formal.

adequately

Adequately suggests just good enough, not much more, while sufficiently suggests meeting a stated need.

amply

Amply means more than enough, which is stronger than sufficiently.

Opposites

Word family

sufficient adjective

enough for a purpose

suffice verb

to be enough

sufficiency noun

an adequate amount

insufficient adjective

not enough

Commonly confused: sufficiently or efficiently?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sufficiently”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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