suffice

verb

suf·​fice sə-ˈfīs How to pronounce suffice (audio)
 also  -ˈfīz
sufficed; sufficing

intransitive verb

1
: to meet or satisfy a need : be sufficient
a brief note will suffice
often used with an impersonal it
suffice it to say that they are dedicated, serious personalitiesCheryl Aldridge
2
: to be competent or capable

transitive verb

: to be enough for
a few more should suffice them
sufficer noun

Examples of suffice in a Sentence

She's also decided that she can't countenance her mother, who gives Jane cash but demands that her daughter save every receipt or package to prove that she didn't spend the money on drugs. Suffice it to say, their short-lived truce is over. Alec Klein, A Class Apart: Prodigies, Pressure, and Passion Inside One of America's Best High Schools, 2007
Thirteen years later, I still don't know exactly what to make of this letter. It goes without saying that a simple thank-you note, especially nearly a year late, would have sufficed. Scott Turow, Atlantic, December 2005
But what of the meteoroids that come from other large objects in the solar system? To escape from Venus or the Earth, matter must be ejected at a velocity of at least seven miles a second; on Mars, three miles a second will suffice. Donald Goldsmith, Natural History, September 2003
No, you don't need to write a letter. A phone call will suffice. Her example alone should suffice to show that anything is possible.
Recent Examples on the Web Two examples may suffice: Sensors on early versions of Apple iWatch pulse monitor raised awareness about potential techno-racial bias because the monitor did not work properly on red or dark ink tattoos. Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 Just cutting back on the constant invective and contrived concerns will more than suffice. Dave Brooks, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024 Whereas at the start of the war, Israel vowed to kill every Hamas member involved in the rampage, now Gallant said a complete demilitarization of Hamas and the Gaza Strip would suffice. Matt Gutman, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2024 The day demonstrated that merely dodging snowstorms does not suffice to cause spring to appear from behind the clouds and in advance of the calendar. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 For most tech positions, higher education isn't as critical; certifications will suffice. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Until then, red, blue, green, and black, and their respective meanings, will have to suffice. Melanie Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2024 So, suffice it to say that Shanahan has a low tolerance for risk. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2024 The warning is important, because suffice to say, this car is not street compatible at all. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suffice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English suffisen, sufficen "to be adequate, be capable," borrowed from Anglo-French suffis-, stem of suffire "to be sufficient for, be adequate," Latinization of Old French sofire, soufire, going back to Vulgar Latin *suffīcere, alteration (with ī from verbs such as dīcere "to say") of Latin sufficere "to provide, appoint, have enough strength or capacity, be adequate," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + facere "to make, do" — more at fact

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffice was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suffice

Cite this Entry

“Suffice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffice. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suffice

verb
suf·​fice sə-ˈfīs How to pronounce suffice (audio)
sufficed; sufficing
1
: to meet or satisfy a need : be sufficient
a brief note will suffice
2
: to be competent or capable
3
: to be enough for

More from Merriam-Webster on suffice

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