suffice
gb/səfˈaɪs/ us/səfˈaɪs/
B2
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
state
1
to be enough or adequate
To be enough for what is needed.
Usage pattern:
to suffice (for [something]) / (to do [something])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "suffice" like an adjective and say *"it is suffice"* instead of "it is sufficient" or "it will suffice". Remember: "suffice" is a verb, while "sufficient" is an adjective. Another common mistake is adding "of", as in *"it suffices of"*; the correct pattern is "suffice for [something]" or "suffice to do [something]".
Synonyms
be enough (More common and neutral in everyday speech; less formal than "suffice".)
|
be sufficient (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal than "be enough" and similar in tone to "suffice".)
Antonyms
be insufficient (Direct opposite, meaning not enough to meet a need or purpose.)
|
fall short (Shows that something does not reach the needed level or amount.)
Collocations
will suffice
|should suffice
|suffice for
|suffice to say
|suffice to do
|this will suffice
Themes
quantity
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- If you can't come in person, an email will suffice.
- Two days should suffice to finish the report.
- A light jacket will suffice on such a warm evening.
- For now, this rough sketch will suffice for our discussion.
- A brief phone call would suffice instead of a long meeting.
Learner examples
- One example will suffice for this lesson.
- This small meal will suffice until dinner.
- Two hours should suffice to clean the house.
- A short message will suffice to tell her the news.
- Your answer does not suffice for the teacher.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suffice
IPA
GB/səfˈaɪs/
US/səfˈaɪs/
Syllables & stress
suf - fice (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fice)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: suffice
- 3rd Person Singular: suffices
- Present Participle: sufficing
- Past: sufficed
Word family
Forms
suffices
verb
sufficing
verb
sufficed
verb
Core family
sufficient
adjective B1
sufficiently
adverb B2
Related words
sufficiency
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
suffice it to say (that)
1/səfˈaɪs ˈɪt tə sˈeɪ ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
formal
say only what is needed
Used before a short comment to show that you are not giving all the details, but what you say is enough for now.
Examples
- Suffice it to say that the meeting did not go as planned.
- Suffice it to say, we won't be working with that company again.
- Suffice it to say that everyone was very surprised by the news.