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to suffice

to suffice

99 4.7
To be enough for what is needed
  • verb
  • /səˈfaɪs/
translation icon : bastar
  • Suffice to say, we are no longer on speaking terms.
  • suffice to say
  • one example will suffice
  • examples will suffice

And he says that we want this argument to suffice to do all of these things.

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Examples

  • A simple thank you would suffice.

  • It could have been more fancy, but that suffices for doing the calculations here.

  • - A simple thank you will suffice.

  • But it will have to suffice.

  • A simple yes or no will suffice.

  • I will spare you the details; suffice it to say that it worked.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Soup and sandwiches would have to suffice from now until she was back to normal.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • But suffice to say, the conversation has been heavily biased towards positive stories.

  • I've enjoyed it, in fact, but once will suffice.

  • A simple thank you will suffice for your help.

Synonyms

to do
vsto suffice
1.0

Be enough for what is needed

focuses on being enough overall rather than on quantity or quality
to serve
vsto suffice
1.8

To be used for a specific purpose or to help achieve something

focuses on being enough by itself rather than on being used or functioning
to satisfy
vsto suffice
243 2.8

Meet a rule or requirement

is simply about being enough rather than actively meeting conditions
to answer
vsto suffice
26 3.5

To be enough to meet a need or purpose

is the simpler idea of being enough for a particular purpose
to fit the bill
vsto suffice
  • Informal
19 3.9

To be right for a specific purpose or need

emphasizes mere adequacy or being enough rather than suitability alone
to fill the bill
vsto suffice
2 4.0

To be right for a particular purpose or need

means being enough in general rather than actively providing required details

How Adequate

to satisfy
243 2.8
to suffice
99 4.7
to serve
1.8

Surface Forms

suffice infinitive
sufficed past
sufficed past participle
sufficing present participle
suffices third person singular

Etymology

Suffice comes from the Latin parts sub- 'under' and facere 'to make' or 'to do'. The facere part is the same root behind the English word factory and the simple verb 'make'. So to suffice now means to be 'enough' to meet a need.