Enough (determiner / adverb) — as much or as many as necessary; to the degree required or satisfactory. As a determiner it precedes a noun: enough time. As an adverb it follows an adjective or adverb: good enough.
What Does Enough Mean?
Enough descends from Old English genōg, meaning "sufficient" or "adequate", related to Old High German ginuog and Gothic ganohs. The prefix ge- in Old English conveyed completeness or intensity, so the original sense was "fully adequate". By Middle English the form had become ynough, and the initial consonant cluster gradually disappeared in most dialects, leaving the modern spelling with its now-silent gh.
In modern British English, enough is one of the most versatile function words in the language, operating as a determiner, adverb, and pronoun. Its position in the sentence changes depending on the role it plays: before a noun as a determiner (enough seats), after an adjective or adverb as a modifier (warm enough, fast enough), or alone as a pronoun (That's quite enough).
The word often pairs with a to-infinitive to express a condition or purpose: She was brave enough to speak up. This construction — adjective + enough + to-infinitive — is one of the most important patterns for intermediate learners to master, as it contrasts directly with the too + adjective + to-infinitive structure (too shy to speak). See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “enough” for more examples.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Do we have enough chairs for everyone? | A2 | enough as determiner before noun |
| Is the soup warm enough for you? | A2 | enough as adverb after adjective |
| She ran quickly enough to catch the bus. | B1 | enough after adverb + to-infinitive |
| He didn't have enough confidence to ask for a pay rise. | B2 | determiner + noun + to-infinitive |
| Interestingly enough, the study found no significant correlation between the two variables. | C1 | adverbial phrase expressing mild surprise |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| enough time | We don't have enough time to review every application. |
| enough money | Have you saved enough money for the deposit? |
| enough space | There isn't enough space in the boot for all the luggage. |
| good enough | Your first draft is good enough to submit. |
| old enough | He isn't old enough to vote yet. |
| fair enough | "I need more time." — "Fair enough, take the weekend." |
| sure enough | I suspected he'd be late, and sure enough, he arrived at noon. |
| strangely enough | Strangely enough, the loudest student turned out to be the shyest. |
| enough of | I've had quite enough of this argument. |
| enough to go round | Don't worry — there's plenty, enough to go round. |
Usage Notes
- Position matters. As a determiner, enough always precedes the noun it modifies (enough evidence). As an adverb, it always follows the adjective or adverb it modifies (clear enough, slowly enough) — never before it.
- Enough of + determiner. When a determiner (the, this, my, his, etc.) appears between enough and the noun, you must insert of: enough of the students passed, enough of my time. Without a determiner, omit of: enough students, enough time.
- Enough vs too. Too signals an excess that prevents an action (too heavy to lift). Enough signals that a minimum threshold is met, enabling an action (strong enough to lift). Both patterns use a to-infinitive but carry opposite meanings.
- Emphatic phrases. Fixed adverbial phrases such as sure enough, strangely enough, funnily enough, and oddly enough introduce a fact that confirms or surprises. They are common in spoken and journalistic English and always begin the clause they modify.
- Fair enough is an informal spoken idiom used to acknowledge that something is reasonable or acceptable. It is not interchangeable with enough in its other uses.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
She is enough tall to reach the shelf.
She is tall enough to reach the shelf. (adverb enough follows the adjective)
We have enough of money to travel.
We have enough money to travel. (no of without a preceding determiner)
I've had enough of problems with this software.
I've had enough problems with this software. (no of when there is no determiner before the noun)
He is too confident enough to succeed.
He is confident enough to succeed. (do not combine too and enough — they express opposite ideas)
Related Words
Practise This Word
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Frequently Asked Questions about “enough”
What does enough mean?
Enough means as much or as many as is necessary or satisfactory. It can be used as a determiner before a noun ('enough time'), as an adverb after an adjective ('good enough'), or as a pronoun ('That's enough'). The core idea is that the quantity or degree meets a requirement — no more is needed.
Does enough come before or after the word it modifies?
As a determiner, enough comes before the noun: 'enough money', 'enough seats'. As an adverb, enough always comes AFTER the adjective or adverb it modifies: 'tall enough', 'quickly enough'. Placing it before the adjective (e.g. 'enough tall') is a common learner error.
What is the difference between enough and sufficient?
Both mean 'as much as is needed', but sufficient is more formal and is common in academic or professional writing. Enough is neutral and natural in all registers. You would say 'sufficient evidence' in a legal document but 'enough evidence' in everyday speech. Sufficient cannot be used after an adjective the way enough can ('tall enough' — not 'tall sufficient').
How do you use enough in a sentence?
Use enough as a determiner before a noun: 'Do we have enough chairs?' Use it as an adverb after an adjective or adverb: 'She isn't old enough to drive.' Use it as a pronoun: 'I've had enough, thank you.' It is often followed by a to-infinitive to express purpose: 'He saved enough money to buy a car.'
Can enough be used as a pronoun?
Yes. Enough can stand alone as a pronoun when the noun it refers to is clear from context: 'Is there enough for everyone?' or 'That's quite enough!' In this use it functions like 'a sufficient amount' without repeating the noun.
What is the difference between enough and too?
Too means more than is needed or wanted, while enough means exactly as much as is needed. Compare: 'The coffee is too hot to drink' (more heat than desired) and 'The coffee is hot enough to warm my hands' (the right amount of heat). Too always suggests a problem; enough suggests satisfaction.
Is enough followed by of?
When enough is used before a determiner (the, this, my, etc.) plus noun, you must insert of: 'enough of the students', 'enough of this nonsense'. Without a determiner, of is not used: 'enough students', 'enough time'. Compare: 'I've had enough cake' vs 'I've had enough of this cake.'
What is the origin of the word enough?
Enough comes from Old English 'genōg', meaning 'sufficient', related to Old High German 'ginuog' and Gothic 'ganohs'. The g- prefix in Old English often signified completeness or intensity. Over centuries, the initial g- was dropped in most dialects, giving Middle English 'ynough' and eventually modern 'enough'. The spelling with -gh reflects an earlier pronunciation of a guttural sound now silent in standard British English.
What are common collocations with enough?
Common collocations include: enough time, enough money, enough space, enough evidence, enough courage, good enough, old enough, strong enough, fair enough (an informal phrase meaning 'I accept that'), strangely enough, sure enough, and funnily enough. The phrases 'sure enough' and 'strangely enough' are adverbial and add emphasis or surprise to a statement.
How can I practise using enough in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise enough in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test vocabulary including enough and related words like sufficient, plenty, and too. Writing your own sentences comparing 'too + adjective' with 'adjective + enough' is an excellent way to internalise the difference.