sufficiently

Everyday

1. (formal) Sufficiently means enough, as much as is needed: the water was sufficiently warm to swim. tree →
2. (formal) Sufficiently means to a big enough degree for something to happen. tree →

In the lessons

Formal and exam word; in science, «heat it until it is sufficiently hot». In formal maths questions, «sufficiently large» means big enough for the rule to work. Plain word: enough. Phrases: sufficiently large, sufficiently clear, not sufficiently.

Examples

• The ice was not sufficiently thick to walk on. tree →
• Cook the chicken until it is sufficiently hot all the way through. tree →
• Is the room sufficiently light for reading? tree →
• She was sufficiently well to go back to school. tree →
• The answer is not sufficiently clear; please explain it. tree →
• If the number is sufficiently large, it will not fit on the screen. tree →
• I shall be sufficiently repaid by knowing that you are happy. tree →

Note

Formal word for «enough». Note the word order: «sufficiently warm» but «warm enough» — «enough» comes after the adjective, «sufficiently» before it. Adjective: sufficient (enough: sufficient food). Opposite: insufficiently.