sufficiently
gb/səfˈɪʃəntli/ us/səfˈɪʃəntli/
B2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
quantity
1
to an adequate extent
Enough for what is needed or wanted.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] sufficiently
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sufficiently' with 'efficiently'; 'sufficiently' refers to enough quantity or degree, not speed or productivity.
Synonyms
adequately (Very close in meaning, but slightly more common in everyday speech than 'sufficiently'.)
|
enough (Simpler and more common; less formal than 'sufficiently'.)
Antonyms
insufficiently (Direct opposite; means not enough in amount or degree.)
|
inadequately (Means not done to a satisfactory or acceptable level.)
Collocations
sufficiently clear
|sufficiently strong
|sufficiently trained
|sufficiently large
Themes
daily life
|communication
|measurement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The instructions were sufficiently clear for everyone to understand.
- She was sufficiently prepared to answer all the questions.
- The room was sufficiently large to hold fifty guests.
- He spoke loudly enough to be sufficiently heard in the back row.
- The evidence was sufficiently strong to support the claim.
Learner examples
- The water was sufficiently hot for tea.
- He ran sufficiently fast to win the race.
- The bag is sufficiently big for all my books.
- She studied sufficiently to pass the exam.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sufficiently
IPA
GB/səfˈɪʃəntli/
US/səfˈɪʃəntli/
Syllables & stress
suf - fi - ciently (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sufficiently
- Plural: sufficientlies
Word family
Forms
sufficientlies
noun
Core family
sufficient
adjective B1
Related words
suffice
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
insufficient
adjective B2
insufficiently
adverb
Advanced or less common
sufficiency
noun
insufficiency
noun
Expressions
not sufficiently
1/nˈɑt səfˈɪʃəntli/
fixed phrase
not to an adequate extent
Used to say something is not enough for a purpose or need.
Examples
- The area was not sufficiently lit for reading.
- He was not sufficiently prepared for the interview.
sufficiently enough
1/səfˈɪʃəntli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
more than adequately enough
Used to say something is more than enough for a need or purpose.
Examples
- The food was sufficiently enough to feed everyone at the party.
- She had sufficiently enough time to finish her work before the deadline.