Enough Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (2024)

1 enough

ˈnʌf/

adjective

1 enough

ˈnʌf/

adjective

Britannica Dictionary definition of ENOUGH

:

equal to what is needed

  • Have you got enough money?

  • That's enough talk for now; let's get started.

  • There's enough food for everyone.

  • There's enough room for five people. = There's room enough for five people.

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2 enough

ˈnʌf/

adverb

2 enough

ˈnʌf/

adverb

Britannica Dictionary definition of ENOUGH

1

:

in the amount needed

:

to the necessary degree

  • I couldn't run fast enough to catch up with her.

  • She's old enough to know better.

  • Are you rich enough to retire?

  • That's good enough for me.

  • Oddly/curiously/strangely/amazingly/surprisingly enough, they've never actually met.

  • As if the crowds aren't bad enough, the parking situation is terrible.

  • You're always ready enough [=always very or too ready] to blame someone else for your mistakes.

  • I was happy/willing enough [=I was happy/willing] to go along with his plan.

  • We can do it if they help enough.

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2

:

to a degree that is not very high or very low

:

to a reasonable extent

  • He sings well enough. [=he sings fairly well]

  • The solution seems simple enough. [=the solution seems fairly simple]

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fair enough

see 1fair

sure enough

see 2sure

3 enough

ˈnʌf/

pronoun

3 enough

ˈnʌf/

pronoun

Britannica Dictionary definition of ENOUGH

:

an amount that provides what is needed or wanted

:

an amount that is enough

  • There's enough for everyone.

  • Have you had enough to eat?

  • He hasn't learned much Spanish, but he knows enough to get by.

  • The crowds are enough of a problem as it is without having to worry about parking as well!

  • It's enough to drive you crazy!

  • I've had (more than) enough of their foolishness. [=I'm sick of their foolishness]

  • That's enough, young lady! [=stop behaving or talking in that way]

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enough is enough

used to say that you want something to stop because you can no longer accept or deal with it

  • I don't mind loaning her a bit of money now and then, but enough is enough!

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enough said

informal

used in speech to say that you understand what someone is telling you and no further information is needed

  • “Is he in good condition?” “Well, he ran in the Boston Marathon last month.” “Enough said.”

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As someone deeply immersed in linguistics and language analysis, my expertise extends to the nuances of word meanings, grammatical structures, and contextual usage. I've delved into dictionaries, linguistic corpora, and language resources to unravel the intricacies of various terms. Let's apply this expertise to the concept of "enough" as presented in the article.

1. Enough as an Adjective:

  • Definition: Equal to what is needed.
  • Examples: "Have you got enough money?" "There's enough food for everyone."

2. Enough as an Adverb:

  • Definition: Used after an adjective, adverb, or verb to signify the amount needed or to the necessary degree.

  • Examples: "I couldn't run fast enough to catch up with her." "She's old enough to know better."

  • Additional Usage: Used to indicate a reasonable extent, not very high or very low.

    • Example: "He sings well enough."

3. Enough as a Pronoun:

  • Definition: An amount that provides what is needed or wanted.

  • Examples: "There's enough for everyone." "Have you had enough to eat?"

  • Additional Usage: "Enough is enough" is an idiomatic expression conveying the desire for something to stop because it's no longer acceptable.

    • Example: "I don't mind loaning her a bit of money now and then, but enough is enough!"
  • Phrase Usage: "Enough said" is an informal expression used to convey understanding, indicating that no further information is needed.

    • Example: "Is he in good condition?" "Well, he ran in the Boston Marathon last month." "Enough said."

In dissecting these definitions and examples, it's evident that "enough" functions as a versatile word, adapting to different parts of speech to convey sufficiency or adequacy in various contexts. From its role as an adjective denoting equality to needs, an adverb indicating the necessary degree, and a pronoun representing a satisfactory amount, "enough" encapsulates a broad spectrum of meanings essential for effective communication.

Enough Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (2024)
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