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adv B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

sufficiently

suh-FIH-shuhnt-lee

Sufficiently (adv) means to an adequate or sufficient degree; enough. Example: “Make sure the meat is sufficiently cooked before serving.”

adv
1
To an adequate or sufficient degree; enough.
"Make sure the meat is sufficiently cooked before serving."

How to use sufficiently

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEnough, or to a large enough extent.

Word forms

more sufficiently comparative, most sufficiently superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Make sure the meat is _____ cooked before serving.

Etymology

Formed from sufficient plus -ly.

Related words

Rhymes for sufficiently

See all rhymes for sufficiently →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sufficiently” mean?

The word “sufficiently” means to an adequate or sufficient degree; enough. In plain terms, enough, or to a large enough extent.

How do you pronounce “sufficiently”?

“Sufficiently” is pronounced suh-FIH-shuhnt-lee (/səˈfɪʃəntli/ in IPA).

How do you use “sufficiently” in a sentence?

Here is “sufficiently” used in a sentence: “Make sure the meat is sufficiently cooked before serving.”

What part of speech is “sufficiently”?

“Sufficiently” is an adverb.

Is “sufficiently” a common word?

“Sufficiently” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between sufficiently and enough?

Sufficiently and enough both mean to an adequate degree, but sufficiently is more formal and typically placed before an adjective, as in 'sufficiently warm,' while enough is more casual and usually placed after the adjective, as in 'warm enough.'

Is sufficiently a formal word?

Yes, sufficiently tends to sound more formal than everyday alternatives like 'enough' or 'adequately,' making it common in academic, legal, or technical writing rather than casual speech.

Where does sufficiently go in a sentence relative to the adjective it modifies?

Sufficiently is placed directly before the adjective or adverb it modifies, as in 'sufficiently clear' or 'sufficiently well-prepared,' unlike 'enough,' which follows the adjective instead.

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